An obsessed husband almost knifed his wife to d

An obsessed husband almost knifed his wife to death because he
mistakenly thought she had given him VD, the Old Bailey heard.

Rebecca Carter, 41, was stabbed 20 times by her enraged husband
after he mistook a common infection for solid proof of his wife’s
infidelity.

Stephen Carter, 42, said he had gone ‘blank’ after confronting her
with her apparent unfaithfulness and remembered little of the savage
attack which almost landed him on a murder charge.

Only the skill of a doctor rushed to the scene by helicopter stood
between her and death.

Jailing Carter for six years for wounding with intent, the Recorder
of London, Judge Lawrence Verney, QC, told him: ‘This was apparently
caused by insane jealousy’.

The court was told September 12 last year was like any other day in
the couple’s home in Maitland Close, Hounslow, with Mrs Carter seeing
the children off to work and school.

After her two sons, aged 19 and 17, and the 13-year-old daughter
were on their way, she got on with the housework, said prosecutor Mr
John Coffey.

‘Carter came downstairs.

Everything appeared to be normal.

There
were no arguments.

‘She was aware that he was behind her.

‘Without further ado he grabbed her from behind by the hair and
pulled her head around to face him and demanded to know who she had
been having an affair with.

‘She denied the suggestion.

‘
His response was to swing a kitchen knife he had in his hand and
plunge it powerfully into her groin.

‘She was almost instantly aware of blood pouring from the stab
wound.

‘She was able to struggle to the hall, trying to get towards the
front door.

‘He stabbed her continually, accusing her of having an affair.

She
continued to deny the suggestion.

‘
Unable to open the door and by now weak from loss of blood, she
pleaded with him to stop.

At that stage he was kicking her, counsel
said.

‘The incident came to an end when she was aware that he was
standing over her.

She felt the knife go into her neck.

‘
The next thing she knew, the door was open and her husband had
fled.

She managed to stagger to a neighbour’s home, where she slumped
to her knees and pleaded for help.

London Hospital in Whitechapel received the call for help at 10am
and a doctor arrived at the scene by helicopter just nine minutes
later.

He was able to stabilise her condition and she was whisked away to
hospital for emergency surgery.

The rapid response almost certainly
saved her life.

Doctors found 20 separate stab wounds, including two that might
easily have caused death, counsel said.

Just before 10am, Carter had phoned New Scotland Yard claiming to
have killed a woman.

When asked why, he replied: ‘It doesn’t matter,
does it?’
Carter later flagged down a police car which was looking for him
and told the officers: ‘I hope she’s all right.

‘
At Hounslow police station he said his suspicions that his wife had
been unfaithful had been confirmed when she had given him a venereal
disease, Mr Coffey said.

‘That was untrue.

He had been receiving treatment for a urinary
tract infection but never sought treatment for venereal disease.

He
had no venereal disease.

‘
Carter told detectives: ‘I just wanted to hurt her.

I stabbed her
in the belly, I think.

She screamed.

‘I just went f***ing blank.

I can’t remember stabbing her in the
neck.

It wasn’t my intention to kill her.

I just wanted to hurt her.

‘
In court Carter, an unemployed metal worker with no previous
convictions for violence, admitted wounding with intent to cause
grievous bodily harm.

An attempted murder charge was not proceeded with.

Det Con John Cremin said Mrs Carter was recovering physically
from the attack but was still in fear of her husband.

‘She is very very concerned that he may come back and finish the
job off.

‘
But Mr Nicholas Valios, QC, defending, said Carter wanted her to
know that she had nothing to fear from him and he had accepted their
19-year marriage was now over.

Judge Verney told the defendant: ‘You stabbed her 20 times.

At
least two of those wounds could have caused death.

‘It was only the prompt attention and skill of the doctors that
saved her life.

‘The reason for this conduct appears to have been insane jealousy
that was unfounded.

‘She was in great fear at the time and remains in great fear still
and she is justified in entertaining that fear.

‘
Carter stared straight ahead as he was sentenced to six years jail.

ENDS
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