A young mother was stabbed to death by her ex-boyf

A young mother was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend shortly after he turned up with roses to patch up their relationship, an Old Bailey jury heard today.

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Darren Rogers, 24, turned on Avril Hollens after she refused to discuss their future and told him to go away.

And moments before Miss Hollens was attacked she called police to say he was trying to take their two children away.

Rogers plunged a kitchen knife deep into Miss Hollens’ heart and then dropped to his knees screaming: ‘What have I done.

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Earlier he had turned up at Miss Hollens’ home in Mersey Road, Tonbridge, Kent, with roses following the break-up of their five year relationship.

But when Miss Hollens, 22, said she was not interested Rogers warned her she would need a solicitor because he had one.

‘He then said if he was going he should take the children with him,’ said Christopher Kinch, QC, prosecuting.

Rogers then went upstairs to where his young son and daughter were sleeping prompting Miss Hollens to call police ‘and say her ex-boyfriend was trying to take her children away.

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But minutes later Rogers stabbed Miss Hollens three times after chasing her around the kitchen.

One of the wounds, to her heart, proved fatal.

There was then some drama in court as one of the woman jurors appeared to faint in her seat.

A court matron came to assist and she was able to continue on the panel after a short adjournment.

Rogers, of Knight Road, Tonbridge, denies murder on October 8 last year.

Opening the case Mr Kinch said earlier in the day Rogers, who worked for an office refurbishment firm, told workmates on the way back from a job that he was still trying to get back with Miss Hollens.

As he was driven back to Tonbridge the car stopped so Rogers could ‘buy some roses for Avril from a roadside flower seller,’ Mr Kinch said.

Rogers then spent the early part of the evening at the Pinnacle pub in Tonbridge with some friends and although there was no trouble the landlord noticed the defendant appeared agitated.

The jury heard that Rogers was going to accompany a pal to a pub in Essex but he insisted on going to Miss Hollens’ home first so he could drop off the roses.

‘When he got there at about 9pm he seemed in a perfectly reasonable mood,’ the QC continued.

Miss Hollens told Rogers to go to the party with his friend and that he could not see the children because they were in bed.

‘He wanted to go into the sitting room to talk privately about their future but she refused and that plainly seemed to irritate him because he then said he had a solicitor and as he had one she would need one,’ said Mr Kinch.

‘He said his solicitor was the best.

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Rogers then accused Miss Hollens, her sister Kelly, and a friend who was with her of laughing at him and he was told ‘firmly’ to leave, the court heard.

After Miss Hollens called police saying Rogers was trying to take the children away the discussion became increasingly strained.

Miss Hollens told him to leave her alone and she was cleaning the work surfaces in the kitchen when he ran in and pulled a drawer out scattering cutlery all over the floor.

‘He took hold of a knife which had a long blade and a black handle,’ continued Mr Kinch.

‘He was now, the prosecution say, quite plainly intent on violence.

He ended up chasing her around the kitchen and moving his arm in a slashing or stabbing movement towards her.

‘She tried to get away but was not able to do so.

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Kelly Hollens tried to pull Rogers away and she could see his knife making contact with her clothing.

But, claimed the QC, Rogers raised the knife at her and said: ‘You’re next.

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The last Kelly Hollens saw of her sister she was lying on the kitchen floor with the defendant kneeling down next to her shouting: ‘No, no.

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Having gone to a wrong address initially the police arrived and found a neighbour tending to Avril Hollens.

Rogers was still there screaming at her to get up.

By then blood was pouring from her wounds and there was only a faint pulse.

As Rogers was led away by a police officer he said: ‘What have I done.

I’ve killer her.

You might as well kill me.

Go on f—–g kill me.

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Avril Hollens was rushed to the Kent and Sussex Hospital but she was pronounced dead later that night.

Later at Tonbridge Police Station the defendant said: ‘I don’t care, I done it.

I done it out of madness.

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The fatal wound to the deceased’s heart was more than 13 centimetres deep.

The trial continues tomorrow.

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