Langham man can't recall stabbing Oakham woman, Leicester Crown Court trial hears

A Rutland man who stabbed a woman 10 times has admitted he 'can't recall anything' as he denied attempting to murder her.

Following an incident in Bullfinch Close, Oakham on January 21 last year, Robert Truscott of Lowther Close, Langham was charged with attempted murder, grievous bodily harm and possession of a knife.

A trial began on Tuesday (January 4) at Leicester Crown Court after Truscott pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and two counts of wounding with intent. He has admitted having an offensive weapon and unlawful wounding.

The jury heard that while drunk, Truscott, 48, went to the home of Emma Wolfenden and stabbed her 10 times.

It was also alleged that he caused injury to a 26-year-old man, who Miss Wolfenden had met for the first time that night after connecting on the dating website Tinder.

Today (Friday, January 7) marked the first day of defence as Truscott. His barrister, Mr Jonathan Dunne, presented his side of the story, starting with his education, which was affected by the fact he can't read or write very well, leading him to be placed in a special education school.

In October 2020, Miss Wolfenden wrote a letter to the defendant, who she had known for four years, in an attempt to end their friendship, which prosecutor Andrew Peet said was based on alcohol provision, after coming out of rehabilitation.

However, Truscott said he 'didn't think anything of it', and the pair remained in touch.

While in the dock, Truscott told the court how before Miss Wolfenden went into rehabilitation he saw her two to three times a week, and had only bought her vodka on one occasion.

He said: "She wanted me to buy alcohol. I said 'I'm trying to help you slow your drinking down, it's not fair for me to keep going to the shops to buy you alcohol to slowly poison your body'."

Describing their relationship, he added: "It was platonic. We had good chats and had some of the same interests in cooking and baking...we just gelled."

After being told by Miss Wolfenden that she had met someone on Tinder, Truscott attempted to make contact several times by ringing and texting her.

Truscott said: "I didn't take much notice of it.

"I just thought 'oh right, she's met someone and that's it'.

"I called her after to see if she was OK."

Later on in the evening Miss Wolfenden's Tinder date answered the phone after being told by the victim that Truscott was her 'stalker'. The man told Truscott 'she's not interested' but Truscott didn't respond.

"I don't know if I hung up or he hung up," Truscott said.

"I stopped and thought, 'well is she in trouble?'"

He continued: "I got my coat, and went downstairs into a drawer and took a small kitchen knife out."

Truscott then cycled from his home in Langham to Bullfinch Close in Oakham carrying the knife, which he described to be about six inches long, with him in his coat pocket.

The court previously heard that on the night of the incident, Truscott held a knife to the Tinder date's neck and when he tried to grab the knife, the man's hand was injured. A fight then took place between the pair, where Truscott was hit over the head with a bottle of rum, while Miss Wolfenden called 999.

After, the Tinder late left, leaving the Truscott and Miss Wolfenden alone in the house.

He then stabbed Miss Wolfenden with a knife 10 times, including one wound close to the heart, leaving her with life threatening injuries.

Minutes after the attack Truscott called 999, admitting he 'done it'.

Giving evidence in court, Truscott said: "I think I weren't thinking clearly because at that time it was just me and Emma in the room, the other person weren't in the actual room.

"I just thought I must've done it.

"When I made that call I thought that I done it but I can't recall anything."

He added that he didn't know if it was the blow to his head which was affecting his recollection of the night after being asking by prosecutor Andrew Peet if he had 'selective memory issues'.

In a written document signed by Truscott, he admitted he 'saw red' after hearing the Tinder date's voice as he was used to Miss Wolfenden being alone during the evenings.

Asked by the defence lawyer, Mr Dunne if he attempted to murder Miss Wolfenden, Truscott replied 'no'. He added that he thought he had taken the knife to "scare" the other person and did not intend to use it.

In police interview following the incident, Truscott announced 'no comment' to every question put to him by officers. In court today, he said that was based on his solicitor's advice.

Miss Wolfenden was left in hospital for three months as a result of her injuries. She died in June due to unrelated circumstances, aged 37.

The trial continues and resumes on Monday.