7 days ago
He told police 'get here quick before I kill her'
A man who was accused of trying to kill his girlfriend has pleaded guilty to attempting to seriously injure her. Karl Wexler's partner fled their flat "in terror" while only partially clothed after he throttled her with such force that he broke one of his own fingers.
The thug then told police "get here quick before I kill her" during a 999 call. The victim was able to escape, however, "running for her life" before seeking refuge at a nearby social club.
While Wexler went on to state that he "really didn't care about the consequences" and "admitted that his intention had been to kill", he denied attempted murder and went on trial at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday, Monday. However, the 43-year-old admitted the lesser charge of attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm.
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This guilty plea was deemed acceptable by the prosecution, and he will now be sentenced on September 29. Wexler was further remanded into custody until this date by Judge Gary Woodhall.
A jury of six men and six women previously heard during the prosecution's opening that Clare King dialled 999 on the evening of January 21 this year and reported that she was being attacked by Wexler, who was represented by Waheed Baber, at their home on Dentons Green Lane in St Helens. Philip Astbury, appearing for the crown, told the court: "Police responded, and, when they arrived, found her in a distressed state, only partially dressed, because she had run from the flat in terror at what he had done.
"Having been arrested, he was interviewed. He admitted that his intention during that attack had been to kill Clare King. He had become angry and lost control. He now denies that which he said at the time was true.
"It was eight minutes past 10 in the evening when Clare King made that 999 call. You may think that she is utterly terrified when she makes that 999 call. Something serious has happened. In the background, you can hear him saying to the police 'get here quickly before I kill her'."
Ms King was thereafter said to have "run for her life" from the couple's apartment before members of the public came to her aid near Windle Social Club. She then gave an account to PCs who attended the scene "describing a violent assault" while "trying to contain her emotions and clearly very, very distressed".
When arrested back at their home, Wexler stated to officers at the scene that he had "cut his hand" after "crushing a glass in temper" and "broke his little finger because of the force he had used to strangle her". Under interview, he went on to tell detectives that he had strangled Ms King and "placed his thumb on her windpipe, pressing as hard as he could".
Wexler, who appeared in the dock wearing a white Under Armour tracksuit top with a set of rosary beads around his neck, went on to concede to having a "temper", adding that "she had angered him and he had lost control". Mr Astbury added: "On more than one occasion during the course of that interview, he very clearly told the police that his intention was to kill her that night. That is precisely what he intended.
"Chillingly, say the prosecution, he told the officers at the time that he was doing this with his thumb on her windpipe, pressing as hard as he could, he really didn't care about the consequences. He also described an occasion 12 months beforehand when he had strangled her, having lost self control.
"He told police that he put his hands around Clare King's throat and strangled her. So clear was he in his recollection that he was able to remember the date he had done it.
"You may conclude that there is no question that the defendant attacked Clare King, no question, you may also think, that he attacked her with such ferocity that he too suffered injury and no question, it would seem, that he placed his hands around her neck and strangled her. The issue in this case may be whether he meant to kill her at the time he did it or whether it was something he simply said for some other reason.
"The prosecution would say, if he did not intend that, why would he say it? The prosecution say that he was, that night, telling the truth. He may not have cared about the consequences at that particular moment but now, the prosecution say, having had time to think and reflect, he very much cares about the consequences and wants to avoid these charges. That is ultimately for you."
