Woman denies murder after man was found stabbed to death in her kitchen

A woman accused of murder allegedly confessed she had killed a man after paramedics found him on her kitchen floor with a fatal stab wound to his heart.
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Derby Crown Court heard during a trial, which started on Tuesday, July 31, how Jade Grant, 26, of Chiltern Close, Loundsley Green, Chesterfield, allegedly stabbed 32-year-old father Leon Pirdue to death with a steak knife.

Prosecuting barrister Michael Auty QC claimed Leon Pirdue and Miss Grant had been arguing after he had accused her of spreading rumours about him cheating on his partner Corinne Bland and Miss Grant allegedly stabbed him.

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Mr Auty QC argued: “Jade Grant killed him by stabbing him through the heart with a knife.

Pictured is Leon Pirdue, of Newbold, Chesterfield, who died from a fatal stab wound.Pictured is Leon Pirdue, of Newbold, Chesterfield, who died from a fatal stab wound.
Pictured is Leon Pirdue, of Newbold, Chesterfield, who died from a fatal stab wound.

“It went through the front, left-hand side of his chest and pierced the left side of his heart and although he didn’t die instantly, he died within a comparatively short time thereafter on the floor of the kitchen of the defendant’s home.”

He added: “We say it’s hugely significant that when paramedics arrived one of the first things she said was, ‘I’m going to prison, I’ve killed him’.”

The court heard that Miss Grant had been at a birthday party at Old Whittington Social Club and had returned home with friends for an after-party and Mr Pirdue, of Racecourse Road, Newbold, arrived with his friend James Nash in the early hours of September 17, last year.

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After others left the after-party, Mr Auty QC said Leon Pirdue called his partner Corinne Bland about 7am and put her on loud-speaker and told her to tell Miss Grant what the defendant was supposed to have been saying about him at the earlier birthday party.

Pictured is Chiltern Close, at Loundsley Green, Chesterfield, where Leon Pirdue suffered a fatal stab wound.Pictured is Chiltern Close, at Loundsley Green, Chesterfield, where Leon Pirdue suffered a fatal stab wound.
Pictured is Chiltern Close, at Loundsley Green, Chesterfield, where Leon Pirdue suffered a fatal stab wound.

Miss Bland said Miss Grant had told her she could do better for herself and that Leon Pirdue had been cheating on her but Miss Grant denied saying anything of the kind.

Mr Auty QC added that Corinne Bland could then hear Miss Grant repeatedly saying, “Get out of my house”, and she heard the words, “Why are you trying to stab me?”, before the call ended abruptly.

There was a further call, according to Mr Auty QC, and he said Miss Bland heard Leon Pirdue saying, “Go on then, stab me, stab me”, before this call ended.

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Corinne Bland repeatedly called before the phone was answered again and Mr Auty QC claimed Miss Grant allegedly said, “I have stabbed him. He’s on the floor. He’s dead.”

Miss Grant alerted the emergency services and Mr Auty QC said she made a number of comments when paramedics arrived including, “I’m going to prison. I’ve killed him”, and she allegedly said Leon Pirdue had thumped her.

Mr Auty QC claimed that following her arrest by police, Ms Grant also said, “I’ve killed somebody, I’ve killed somebody.”

However, Ms Grant later told police she has no recollection of how Mr Pirdue had become wounded and claimed he had punched and kicked her and hit her over the head with a vodka bottle and that she had been knocked unconscious.

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She added to police she recalled coming round on her back with Leon Pirdue’s body on top of her.

The court heard the jury will be asked to consider whether Jade Grant, who has pleaded not guilty to murder, acted in self-defence or that the stabbing may not have been committed by her or that it was even accidental.

The trial, which had to be re-started after a barrister became ill during an original hearing in March, is expected to be two-weeks long.