[A] COURT has heard how a woman stabbed her husband in the stomach while he lay asleep in their Lake District home.
Andrea Sarah Doyle, 45, injured long-term partner Richard Weir with a kitchen knife in the bedroom of their house at Stonethwaite, near Keswick. Mr Weir underwent emergency surgery to repair a single knife wound to his abdomen following the incident, during the early hours of November 23 last year.
Doyle denied wounding her husband, with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm, “by reason of insanity”. At Carlisle Crown Court today (TUES), a jury reached that same verdict after hearing both evidence which was agreed by the prosecution and defence, and also medical experts’ conclusions.
An eminent psychiatrist said Doyle had suffered a “very severe” acute psychotic episode with symptoms which amounted to her “being out of touch with reality”. This meant, the court heard, she didn’t know what she was doing at that time and/or didn’t realise it was wrong.
But Doyle was said to have since recovered, was receiving treatment and needed ongoing supervision in the community. Her husband was “totally supportive” of her.
The case was adjourned to a future date by Judge James Adkin. Doyle will be assessed by a mental health team to determine her suitability for supervision in the community.
