A WOMAN accused of killing her partner at a Frinton flat has been injured in a prison accident.

Anne Starmore had been due to be sentenced for the manslaughter of Michael Bernhardt at Chelmsford Crown Court, after she admitted the charge at an earlier hearing.

However, the court heard how there had been an accident in Holloway prison, London, where 59-year-old Starmore is on remand.

Her barrister, Nigel Lithman QC, told the court she had fallen down stairs in the course of her prison job and had broken some bones in her foot.

wound Starmore, of Queen’s Road, Frinton, had also suffered concussion in the accident, and the prison had certified she was unfit to attend court, Mr Lithman said.

Judge Christopher Ball QC was told the case will return to court for sentence next month on a date to be fixed.

Mr Bernhardt, 61, died at a flat in Clandon House, Queen’s Road, Frinton, on March 20 shortly before 9.30pm.

A post-mortem examination revealed he died from a knife wound, and a knife was found at the scene.

Mr Bernhardt was a former lorry driver and a father-of-three living in Waltham Road, Frinton.