A Boston woman who denies murder told a jury she had picked up a knife to scare her partner on a previous occasion.
Charlie Stevenson, 21, denies murdering Christopher Higgs, also 21, at her home in Portland Street, Boston.
The prosecution allege Mr Higgs died from a single stab wound to the heart which was deliberately inflicted by Ms Stevenson on July 14 last year.
But giving evidence at Lincoln Crown Court, Ms Stevenson said she picked up a knife only to scare Mr Higgs as he strangled her.
In the struggle that followed Mr Higgs pulled the knife towards himself, Ms Stevenson told the jury.
Ms Stevenson admitted she had also picked up a knife to scare Mr Higgs during a previous physical row in 2020.
On that occasion Mr Higgs immediately stopped, and Ms Stevenson said she expected him to do the same on July 14.
The defence argue there was a history of Ms Stevenson being assaulted by Mr Higgs – but the prosecution have also outlined a number of violent incidents involving Ms Stevenson.
CCTV from a bed & breakfast where Ms Stevenson and Mr Higgs were staying during a temporary placement in May 2019 was shown to the jury.
During the footage Mr Higgs could be seen putting a hand around Ms Stevenson’s neck and snatching a phone from another resident who was ringing the police.
Ms Stevenson said the incident began when Mr Higgs dragged her out of bed by her hair and then put a pillow over her face.
Police arrived and Mr Higgs was temporarily stopped from seeing Ms Stevenson.
A further incident was reported in Guildford during September 2019 when Ms Stevenson was heard shouting “get off me, stop strangling me”.
Ms Stevenson said another incident occurred in Nottingham when Mr Higgs put his knee on her cheekbone – bruising her face.
A further attack took place during a car journey when Mr Higgs pushed Ms Stevenson’s head down and then began punching her dog, the jury were told.
Ms Stevenson said the couple moved to a foster placement in Yorkshire after their son’s birth and things improved with Mr Higgs no longer using cannabis.
“We were just a happy family,” Ms Stevenson said. “Our social workers were really proud of us.”
The jury heard Ms Stevenson moved to Portland Street in October 2020, with both Mr Higgs and their son.
Ms Stevenson, who admitted smoking cannabis herself, said the first few weeks were ok, but Mr Higgs got back into “smoking weed”.
She admitted shouting at Mr Higgs after her phone was damaged, telling the jury: “Christopher started his usual kicking and punching.”
On another occasion in 2020, Ms Stevenson admitted she picked up a knife during an argument in the kitchen after Mr Higgs put his hands over her mouth.
“It started getting physical, Chris punching me to the head.
“At first I took it, I was scared social services would see the marks.
“Then after that I’ve picked up a knife from the kitchen side.”
Asked by defence barrister James Newton-Price QC why she picked it up, Ms Stevenson replied: “To scare Christopher away.”
“He was shocked and stopped straight away,” Ms Stevenson added.
Asked why she again picked up a knife a year later in the incident that led to Christopher’s death, Ms Stevenson replied: “To scare him.”
Ms Stevenson said she did not tell social services about any of the incidents because she did not want to lose her son.
The family briefly returned to Guildford in March 2021, and began living with Mr Higgs’ mother, but they were asked to leave after another incident where Christopher became physical, Ms Stevenson told the jury.
Ms Stevenson denied picking up a glass bowl during the row.
Police were called to a further incident in Surrey after Ms Stevenson said she was knocked to the floor and hit her head after telling Mr Higgs that she did not love him anymore.
Mr Higgs was charged and given bail conditions not to contact Ms Stevenson.
Miss Stevenson said she began seeing someone else but then moved back to Lincolnshire and resumed her relationship with Mr Higgs, without telling the authorities.
On May 30, Miss Stevenson said police were called to Portland Street after Mr Higgs smashed her phone, damaged a door, the fridge and a canvas.
Mr Higgs was granted bail on condition that he lived with his brother in Spalding, but after period of exchanging messages and meeting up, Miss Stevenson said she let him stay at Portland Street from 10 July.
“I agreed he could come and stay until he got accomodation sorted out with the council,” Miss Stevenson said.
“It was fine for the first day or two, but there was an argument the night before when Christopher was smoking weed really late and playing the music loud.”
Ms Stevenson said Mr Higgs put his hand over her mouth and punched her when she asked him to turn the music down.
“I was screaming. I just curled up in a ball until he stopped.”
Ms Stevenson, of Portland Street, Boston, denies murder on July 14 last year.
The trial continues on Monday.
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An emergency road closure will be put in place for two hours in Stamford’s Red Lion Square on Wednesday as expert crews carry out road materials testing.
The critical work will take place on Wednesday, May 25 and the road closure in and around the square will be in effect from 10am until 12pm. A full route diversion will be signposted.
The roads will have to be closed because some of the materials testing will be carried out on the live northbound traffic lane in the area.
The route map for traffic whilst testing is underway. | Photo: LCC
Just last week a forty-year-old gas main was discovered during works to replace the old cobbles in Red Lion Square, which the county council said was likely to delay the completion of the £1.4 million project. The site team began the works but later identified the shallow gas main on-site that may need to be diverted.
Lincolnshire County Council will keep, and update, the cobbled square despite the mayor of Stamford previously calling on the authority to instead use tarmac. Local residents had previously reacted in horror when the traditional paving setts were repacked with patches of tarmac in 2020.
Red Lion Square in Stamford. | Photo: LCC
Karen Cassar, assistant director for highways at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “We are sorry for the inconvenience that these material tests will cause and for the late notice of the road closure in Red Lion Square.
“Our on-site team has uncovered questions about the road materials which need clear answers and these can only come about through these tests.
“Rather than postpone the works further we will close the road for two hours to carry out the tests and then resume to the original plan of works for the area. We are doing this to absolutely minimise the disruption to road users as much as possible.
“Whilst this situation is not ideal, we appreciate the efforts of all concerned. I want to thank everyone effected for their patience in this matter whilst we carry out these tests.”
Over 300 kilos of essential food was donated to Lincoln Foodbank at the opening night of the Hunchback of Notre Dame on Monday, and the show’s producers are offering a prize draw of free tickets to people who continue to help the cause.
The Starring Lincoln Theatre Company’s production of the classic Victor Hugo novel had its opening night at Lincoln Cathedral on Monday, May 23, and it will continue to bring shows to the legendary venue until Saturday, June 4.
The company called on ticket buyers to bring food donations with them to the cathedral for Lincoln Foodbank, and the results certainly did not disappoint.
Andrew Buhagiar, a 20-year-old student from Malta, stars in the production as Quasimodo. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Over 300kgs of goods such as UHT milk, sugar, tuna and tinned foods were collected at the cathedral, a brilliant start to Starring Lincoln’s target of four tonnes – which was achieved during performances of Oliver! in 2017.
The appeal has never been more necessary, with Lincoln Foodbank taking on more people’s needs than ever before, and it has even reached the stage where some of the Hunchback performers are relying on the use of the food bank.
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Visitors are being invited to continue bringing food donations with them, with a collection point situated in the nave of the cathedral.
All donations are welcome, even from those without tickets to a Hunchback production, and anyone who brings something along will be entered into a prize draw to win a ticket to one of the shows.
A magical display inside Lincoln Cathedral. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Tim Marks, who plays Clopin in the Hunchback of Notre Dame said: “It is heartbreaking frankly that people in one of the richest countries in the world simply cannot afford food.
“We know the people of Lincoln have gone above and beyond before with their kindness and crikey we thank them for it, but the Foodbank has never been more in need of donations.
“We have friends, some of whom in the cast who are in need of the Foodbank’s services, so please bring what you can and in return we promise we will entertain you with an absolute stonker of a show!”
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