����ý

A woman accused of the murder of her partner has opted not to give evidence.

Julie Ann McIlwaine, 33, of Hazel Close, Lagmore in west Belfast, is on trial for the murder of 38-year-old Jim Crossley.

She admits causing his death but denies that she murdered him at her former home in Filbert Drive, Dunmurry, on 2 March 2022.

At Coleraine Crown Court on Wednesday, her defence barrister Eilish McDermott KC told the court Julie Ann McIlwaine would not be giving evidence.

The judge in the case advised that “if having been sworn in [Julie Ann McIlwaine] refuses to answer questions, the jury can draw such inference as may appear appropriate”.

Earlier in the day the prosecution continued its evidence with police interviews conducted the day after Mr Crossley was stabbed to death.

In the interviews, Ms McIlwaine was questioned about the lack of blood on her hands after stabbing Mr Crossley.

She told officers she did not know how there was no blood on her hands but there was blood on the baby.

Mr Crossley was asleep in bed with their 10-month-old baby when Ms McIlwaine stabbed him 10 times.

'Created a monster in me'

In the police interviews, she told police about domestic violence in their relationship.

“He would have ended up killing me, he would have. He’s tried twice before," she said.

“I feel like he’s created a monster in me.”

The court also heard voice recordings sent by Ms McIlwaine to a friend.

She sobbed in the dock, covering her ears at times, as the recordings of arguments between her and Mr Crossley were played to the court.

She can be heard telling him to “leave me alone, get out of my life”.

The court was also taken through the history of the relationship between the pair as noted in police statements from a series of altercations from August 2020 until February 2022.

At the time of his death, Mr Crossley was on bail for an assault on Ms McIlwaine, and there was an active restraining order prohibiting him from being in contact with her.

The trial continues.