Woman Convicted of Wounding Husband and Child

Jacqueline Mounsey has been found guilty of intentionally injuring her husband and a child through stabbing them at a residence. She was, however, cleared of attempted murder charges against Mark Bennett and the child, which had been brought after a two-week trial at Carlisle Crown Court. Nevertheless, a jury comprising seven men and five women determined the 53-year-old city resident was guilty of two alternative, less severe charges. These included counts of wounding Mr Bennett and the child with the intention of inflicting grievous bodily harm, decided by majority verdicts of 10 to two and 11 to one, respectively. Testimony presented during the trial revealed that Mounsey initially stabbed her husband while he was asleep on a living room sofa at the Whernside address on June 10. The court was informed that Mr Bennett, aged 56, experienced a sudden jab, then observed Mounsey holding the knife, and subsequently understood he had been assaulted. According to court testimony, as he attempted to escape while bleeding, he reached the garden steps, but Mounsey assaulted him again, trying to stab him once more. Mr Bennett testified to the jury that he was “trying to run for my life”. Evidence presented to the court indicated Mounsey also stabbed the child. A pathologist, after reviewing a scan of the injuries, estimated that the child’s life may have been “potentially millimetres” from being lost. Both Mr Bennett and the child received hospital treatment and were subsequently discharged. Mounsey herself sustained injuries, which the pathologist characterized as potentially “tentative” or “hesitant”. The jury viewed video evidence recorded by detectives at a bail address, following Mounsey’s interview where she largely provided “no comment” responses. During extensive conversations, she implied a desire to disclose information to the officers. She initially stated, “What I’ve got to say is going to get me into trouble.” She then added, “I just want to confess now,” and concluded, “I did it.” In her testimony, Mounsey asserted she had no recollection of June 10, nor of making the subsequent significant statements to the police. She described her devastation following her mother’s recent death, which she said had brought other past traumas sharply into focus. Mounsey, dressed in glasses and a dark suit jacket over a white blouse, displayed no emotional reaction as the four verdicts were delivered. Judge Nicholas Barker stated that sentencing would not occur immediately and postponed the case until February 7 to allow for reports. Mounsey, whose previous address was Whernside, was remanded into custody.