Jury still out in 'scissor stab' murder trial

The jury in the case of a woman accused of killing her fourth husband with scissors has retired for a second evening.

Sandra Clinch, 49, is charged with murdering American car enthusiast Alan Clinch at their Cornish cottage after he told her to "shut up" when she asked him to tidy up. Clinch said her husband's death was "a tragic accident", saying she was unsure how the new dress-making scissors became embedded in the 48-year-old, on the morning of May 13.

The couple's friends were due to arrive for lunch later that day, prompting Clinch to storm into a rage as she began to furiously clean the cottage in Darite, Liskeard.

She said she was unaware of her husband's proximity to her when she picked up the scissors from the table and threw them, later telling Truro Crown Court she couldn't remember if she was still holding the shears when Mr Clinch collapsed and died.

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Sending the jury out to consider its verdict on Monday, Judge Graham Cottle told them to think about a separate charge of manslaughter, on the grounds of diminished responsibility or a lack of intent. The jury will continue deliberations today.