Blood-soaked Asda knife and pickaxe ‘jealous ex used to slit girlfriend’s throat seven minutes after sending ‘stalker’ text’
Maidstone Crown Court today heard how the 23-year-old had told friends she was scared of the 26-year-old and was concerned he would hurt her before she died
A STUDENT was stabbed to death by her ex seven minutes after messaging pals: “Feel like I’m looking over my shoulder all the time,” a jury heard yesterday.
Molly McLaren, 23, sent the WhatsApp text after Joshua Stimpson tracked her down at her gym, the court was told.
Stimpson, who had two knives and a pickaxe in his bag, put his exercise mat near hers in the empty studio on June 29 last year, jurors heard.
A jury has been shown a blood-soaked Asda knife which it is claimed Molly was stabbed to death with by "manipulative and nasty" Stimpson.
The 23-year-old was sitting in her Citroen car at the busy Chatham Dockside Outlet in Kent when Stimpson repeatedly knifed her in the neck and head just after 11am on June 29 last year, the court heard.
Police allege that a witness to the attack, Benjamin Morton, tried to pull the 26-year-old off Molly as she screamed.
It is also said that he tried to close the car door on Stimpson's leg which was hanging out of the vehicle, but he moved inside and carried on his attack.
Mr Morton is alleged to have later told police Stimpson was "continuously" stabbing the second year University of Kent student, mainly in the neck area.
He claimed: "It was like a frenzy, he was doing it again and again."
The court heard that Molly had just been to a gym when she was killed. Stimpson had been at the same gym and she had asked him: "Are you following me now?"
Prosecutor Philip Bennetts QC said as she walked to her car Stimpson was waiting for Molly in his vehicle and then began to tail her.
He then left his car, walked quickly to hers and yanked the door open as Molly began screaming, the court was told.
Stimpson, who admits manslaughter but denies murder, was arrested at the scene, covered in blood.
In custody he was seen by a mental health nurse and when asked if he had had thoughts about harming Molly before the killing he allegedly replied: "Maybe yesterday but I didn't act on them."
Asked about whether he had been experiencing any difficulties with his thoughts, he allegedly said: "I must have or I wouldn't have done this."
At the start of the trial at Maidstone Crown Court in Kent today, prosecutor Philip Bennetts QC told the jury of seven men and five women: "The defendant has pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the basis that at the time of the killing he was suffering from diminished responsibility.
"The prosecution do not accept that he was. Psychiatrists will be called by the defence and prosecution to assist you in determining whether he was or was not suffering from diminished responsibility.
"A psychiatrist for the prosecution is clearly of the opinion that this defendant was not."
The court heard Molly and Stimpson started dating in November 2016 after meeting through Tinder but briefly split four months later.
Stimpson was described as 'rather demanding' with Molly often trying to 'put things right'. He himself said he had 'intense emotions'.
She finally ended the relationship for good on June 17, just 12 days before she died.
In the intervening days the window firm warehouse worker began posting derogatory comments and photos about the part-time barmaid on Facebook, it is alleged.
These included lies about her using cocaine and he tagged people so that all her family could see.
Molly reported the posts to police on June 22. Stimpson, of High Street Wouldham, near Rochester, Kent, was spoken to but it allegedly continued.
The previous day Molly had told a relative she feared he would hurt her.
Describing him as "manipulative and turning nasty", she allegedly told the relative: "I am actually scared about what he might do.
"I'm scared he might hurt me. I don't know how on edge he is."
Mr Bennetts said Stimpson "may or may not" have also been stalking Molly after their break-up, but he did begin to follow her.
Two days before the alleged murder Stimpson had joined the nearby Nuffield Gym at Medway Valley Park, where Molly had applied for a receptionist's job a week earlier.
That same day, he bought a Subatier paring knife from an Asda store in Chatham. It was found on the driver's seat of Molly's car after she died.
Police also allegedly discovered a Saxon pick axe in Stimpson's car. It had also been bought on June 27.
The night before she died it is alleged Stimpson also turned up to the same pub, The Ship and Trades, at outlet centre where Molly was with friends.
He was said to have walked past their table and stared at them from a smoking area.
On June 29, Molly went to Pure Gym in the same shopping complex, having parked in the nearby car park.
Stimpson also arrived, to which Molly asked: "Are you following me now?".
Mr Bennetts said she also sent a text to her mother, Joanne, at 10.45am saying "Mum he's turned up at the gym and come next to me".
In a subsequent phone call Mrs McLaren told her daughter to go straight to the family home in Cobham, near Gravesend.
The court heard Molly also sent a WhatsApp message to a group of friends at 11.02am saying "Feel like I'm f***ing looking over my shoulder all the time".
Stimpson, wearing a blue suit, shirt and tie, sat impassively in the dock while the case was opened.
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The court heard that he told a work colleague he suffered from bipolar disorder.
His family were in the court public gallery as were Molly's parents, Douglas and Joanne.
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