A MAN has admitted killing a “shy and kind” American woman who was found stabbed to death at a home in Colchester.

Adam Butt, 22, had previously denied murder after 21-year-old Mary Wells was found with stab wounds to her neck and body at a property in Laing Road, Greenstead.

Butt, of Laing Road, was arrested after the discovery in January.

He denied murder at a hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court last month.

But during a short hearing at the same court today, Butt admitted manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility.

The court heard a jury trial could still proceed on the murder charge, but discussions between the Crown Prosecution Service and Butt’s defence team are ongoing.

Butt remains remanded at a psychiatric hospital.

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Judge Christopher Morgan said: “I will adjourn this matter to a pre-trial review or further case management hearing on September 3.

“The defendant can appear over the videolink if he requires, or he can be produced as he has been today.

“The trial, which is due to commence in September, will remain at this stage until the parties have had the opportunity of fully considering the position in light of the plea of manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility entered today.”

An inquest at Chelmsford Coroner’s Court previously heard Ms Wells had come to the UK to see a man she had met online.

Speaking at an inquest, assistant coroner Tina Harrington established a provisional cause of death as penetrating wounds to the neck and torso.

A fundraising page was set up to help her grieving family with the process of transporting her body home.

On the page, Ms Wells was described as kind, a person who “would give someone the shirt off her back”.

The page set a target of raising £3,300 and reached the goal in just two days.

It said: “Mary was quiet and didn’t ask for much. She wasn’t the kind of person who likes to fight or argue. She was very shy.”

It added: “Mary had a tough couple of years. She lost her mum due to health problems and lost her grandmother, who took care of her after her mum died two years ago.”