A former soldier whose fiancee died after their vi
A former soldier whose fiancee died after their violent row over the Alanis Morissette song ‘Ironic’ walked free from court today.
(THURS)
Kevin Gibbens, 42, was cleared of murder after he
claimed he fought off Kim Grant when she attacked him with animal ornaments.
The council officer denied attacking the architect but admitted putting his hands around her throat as he tried to throw her out of his home.
The single mum spent the night in East Surrey hospital, Redhill and was treated for cuts to her face and discharged the next day.
Hours later 41-year-old Ms Grant complained of ‘shooting pains’ in her head and suffered a massive stroke.
Doctors had failed to detect that her carotid artery had been torn in the struggle, cutting off the blood supply to her head.
She went into a coma and died three days later.
A jury of five women and seven men at London’s Blackfriars Crown Court cleared Gibbens of murder and manslaughter after nearly six hours deliberation.
Gibbens swayed with relief in the dock as the verdict was announced.
His friends and relatives clapped and cheered as Mr Justice Bell told him he could leave the dock a free man.
But the dead woman’s family, including her 14-year-old daughter, rushed from court in tears.
Gibbens insisted he repeatedly fended off furious attacks from the woman who he said went ‘crazy’ in his home at Albert Road, Horley, Surrey.
He said the fatal row was triggered when he found the third verse of song was ‘funny’ when Alanis sings: ‘It’s meeting the man of my dreams.
‘And then meeting his beautiful wife.
‘And isn’t it ironic.
.
.
don’t you think?’
Gibbens said the couple were engaged during a three-year long relationship that had become strained.
He said he had a ‘pressurised job’ with Crawley Borough Council but Ms Grant wanted him to live at her home in Arodene Road, Brixton, which she was busy restoring.
Ms Gibbens, who was brought up in Shepherds Bush was also running her business and completing a master’s degree in surveying.
Gibbens said she was making herself ill with overwork and was suspicious of men after being treated badly by former partners.
‘She has a problem with what she calls a lack of honesty from men,’ Gibbens said.
‘Women are from Venus, men are from Mars – it’s all a matter of perception.
On June 28 last year, Ms Grant went to meet Gibbens and they enjoyed a meal with friends before drinking at a pub and walking home.
They went back to his home and began listening to a new CD featuring the song.
Gibbens told police: ‘I said something about the lyrics in there which I thought was funny.
‘We started to argue – it was absolutely ridiculous but centred about this man/woman thing.
‘
Gibbens said Miss Grant seemed ‘geared up’ for an argument and he told her he was going up to bed.
He added: ‘I heard this crashing sound behind me.
‘She had actually ripped one of the coat racks off the wall and is running upstairs towards me.
‘It stunned me.
It’s just not Kim at all.
‘
Gibbens said she launched herself at him but he kicked out to defend himself and Ms Grant fell backwards.
When he rushed downstairs to help his lover she attacked him with plaster cobra.
Gibbens said he managed to disarm her after the fight which left them both bleeding.
He went to ring for help, only for Miss Grant to rip out the phone wires.
She then grabbed a wooden dinner gong carved in the shape of a elephant and threw it at him, striking his elbow.
Gibbens said Miss Grant then saw blood welling from her face in the mirror and began smearing blood down the wall.
‘She then smeared a handful of blood over my work folder.
‘She then walked across the room and smeared another handful of blood across an antique wooden dresser.
‘
Gibbens said he got Ms Grant in a headlock and dragged her to the front door, although they continued to struggle.
‘The only way to get her out was to kick the door open and grab her neck with both hands and throw her out.
.
.
that gave me a couple of seconds breathing space.
‘
He sobbed as he added: ‘In that moment I made the biggest mistake of my life.
I will never forgive myself.
‘
The court heard that the vital artery is notoriously unprotected and even ‘moderate’ pressure can damage the vessel.
Ms Grant told police that after their argument Gibbens ‘went mad and punched me in the face at least three times.
‘
He then grabbed her throat and dragged her towards the door, she said.
ends
