Trans woman killed her husband by 'stabbing and slicing him' more than 50 times with samurai sword she bought in the 1980s, jury finds
Joanna Rowland-Stuart, 71, had been deemed 'unfit to plead' to the murder of her husband Andrew Rowland-Stuart, 69, in their 15th-floor flat in Lavender Street in Brighton, on May 27 last year.
She told police attending the scene that 'she had no choice' but to kill him after he attacked her with the sword, which she bought in the 1980s.
When police and paramedics arrived at the scene, they tried to conduct life-saving treatment, but Mr Rowland-Stuart's injuries were 'simply not survivable'.
On Thursday afternoon, jurors at Lewes Crown Court found that Rowland-Stuart had killed her husband in a trial of the act which decides if someone physically committed a crime, rather than their intent.
Rowland-Stuart was given an indefinite Hospital Order Under Section 41 of the Mental Health Act 1983.
While prosecuting, Charlotte Newell KC said there was 'no doubt' Rowland-Stuart had inflicted the injuries, 'which she did by stabbing and slicing him over 50 times with a samurai sword'.
Ms Newell added: 'Although Joanna Rowland-Stuart made some suggestion to attending police officers at the time that she did act in self-defence - the crown suggest that can safely be rejected.
'On the basis that, whatever the cause for attacking Andrew, the sheer number and the nature of the wounds that she inflicted, could not possibly be a reasonable use of force.'
Jurors heard that Rowland-Stuart, who is transgender, married Mr Rowland Stuart, known as Andy, in a civil partnership in 2006.
Their neighbours gave witness statements that described them as a 'normal couple' who they had never heard arguing.
Describing the scene, Ms Newell said: 'Andy was lying in the small living room in a pool of blood - he was covered in blood from significant knife wounds to his hands, his arms and to his torso - he was wearing underwear and a long sleeve t-shirt and that was soaked through.
'The samurai sword, which had been used to inflict all bar one of the injuries, had been placed back on a sheath and back on its stand from where it was later recovered.'
During the trial, Rowland-Stuart was found 'unfit' to plead and participate in her trial.
Judge Christine Laing KC ruled: 'She would be an unreliable witness in her own defence and would not be fit to be cross-examined, and for those reasons alone I find her unfit to plead.'
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