Man accused of stab murder of ex-girlfriend will not give defence evidence

A man who stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death in a shopping centre car park will not be giving evidence in his defence, a court has been told.

Joshua Stimpson carried out the frenzied attack on university student Molly McLaren, 23, with a kitchen knife as she sat in her car on June 29 last year.

Covered in blood, 26-year-old Stimpson was arrested shortly afterwards in the car park at the Dockside retail outlet in Chatham, Kent.

Opening the defence case at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday, Oliver Saxby QC, defending, said Stimpson would not be giving evidence.

Judge Adele Williams asked if the defendant had been made aware that the jury may draw inferences from his failure to do so and Mr Saxby confirmed he had.

Stimpson admits manslaughter by diminished responsibility, but denies murder.

The trial continues.