A woman has been cleared by a court of deliberately stabbing her husband, who then had to have his spleen removed.
There were cheers from the public gallery at Chelmsford Crown Court when the jury came back with a unanimous verdict of not guilty against Anne-Marie Reason.
The court heard how paramedics and police were called to the family home in Copford last December.
Mrs Reason, 41, had phoned for an ambulance after she confronted her husband over him having an affair.
He made a partial confession and the prosecution alleged Mrs Reason had then deliberately plunged a kitchen knife into his side in the early hours of December 29.
But the jury heard how Mrs Reason was only holding the knife to emphasise the fact she wanted her husband out of their home in Bellingham Drive, Copford.
He had come towards her and then stumbled on to the knife, the court heard. It had been an accident and there was no intention of stabbing her husband, Mrs Reason said.
She was formally discharged by the court.
Published Friday, October 1, 2004
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