Upper-right-hand corner of the hot/crazy index.
Posted on 01/16/2023 2:05:48 PM PST by nickcarraway
Rebecca Press, 31, denies the murder of Richard Marc Ash, 57, who was found unresponsive at a house in New Tredegar in July last year
A woman allegedly plunged a knife into the chest of a man when he intervened after she headbutted her own mother following a day drinking and having taken drugs. Rebecca Press, 31, is charged with the murder of Richard Marc Ash, 57, who was found unresponsive at an address in Elliot's Town, New Tredegar, at 12.40am on July 17 last year.
A jury at Cardiff Crown Court was told Mr Ash was a neighbour and friend of Press’ mother Michelle Press and had spent the afternoon with the defendant and her mother on the evening of July 16 at an address in Long Row. Prosecutor Jonathan Rees KC said: “Throughout that time the defendant, who was drinking and had taken drugs, was behaving more and more erratically, eventually headbutting her mother to the nose causing a cut. When Marc Ash tried to calm the defendant down he paid the price with his life.”
Mr Rees said in the aftermath of the stabbing Press made a phone call. “At 1.15 am on Sunday, July 17, 2022, the defendant Rebecca Press left a voicemail for her ex-boyfriend Ashley Allen," the court heard. “She said: ‘Ash it’s really bad. It’s really f****** bad. I’ve just stabbed someone and killed them. I’ve just murdered someone, please phone me now. F*** (screams). I’ve just murdered someone’. Indeed, the prosecution says, she had.
“Minutes earlier Rebecca Press had picked up a knife and stabbed Richard Marc Ash with it just above his heart. Mr Ash, known as Marc, was unarmed. The full length of the blade – up to the handle – plunged into his chest, some 7.5cm or so, and pierced the aortic arch above his heart. Mr Ash rapidly lost blood from the injured aortic arch leading to his cardiac arrest and death."
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Press was later charged with murder and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Mr Rees said: “In relation to the count of murder the prosecution says that the person who stabbed Marc Ash, killing him, was the defendant Rebecca Press. There does not appear to be any issue about that. The prosecution must prove that at the time of the killing Rebecca Press intended to kill or inflict really serious harm and that, at the time she did so, she was not acting in necessary and reasonable self-defence.
“In relation to the count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm the prosecution says that Rebecca Press grabbed Michelle Press by the arm and struck Michelle with her head causing an injury to Michelle’s nose and marks to her arm. The prosecution must prove that Rebecca Press did so and that at the time she did so she was not acting in necessary and reasonable self-defence.”
Mr Rees said on July 16 the defendant and her mother spent a sunny afternoon in the garden drinking. He said Rebecca Press told her mother she had taken four Valium tablets that morning. Later the defendant said she wanted to go to the pub and Mr Ash said he would go with her. "As Marc and the defendant walked off to the Dynevor Arms in New Tredegar there appeared to be no issues between them,” the prosecutor said.
By 9.30pm they were at the pub and the landlord Shaun Robinson described Mr Ash as being in a “good mood” and the court heard Press was too initially. Mr Rees said: “However at some point around 11pm the barmaid Millie Whyberd became aware of shouting coming from the area of the female toilets and went to investigate. The defendant was inside one of the cubicles and shouting. Millie asked Marc, who was stood outside the cubicle, what the defendant was shouting about and he said that the defendant was stuck inside the cubicle.
“The defendant seemingly had her phone with her inside the cubicle as she had, in fact, called her mother. By now,her mother will tell you, the defendant was slurring her words and sounded drunk. She claimed that she had been locked in the toilet at the pub. Michelle reassured her that that couldn’t be right as the lock was on the inside of the toilet door. The defendant called back again, this time screaming and shouting that she had been locked in the toilet and that something was going to happen. Michelle Press told her daughter to come home.”
Attempts were made to help Press get out of the toilet cubicle but the defendant managed to open the door without any help and walked past Ms Whyberd, saying she “couldn’t believe” she had been locked in the toilet. She accused Ms Whyberd of locking her in the cubicle, which was impossible as the latch was on the inside.
Mr Rees said: “The defendant walked to the front of the pub and continued shouting at Millie, accusing her of locking her in the cubicle. Millie suggested that she calm down as she was getting more and more agitated. Meanwhile Marc Ash had walked away from the pub just before 11.30pm. Michelle had spoken to Marc on the phone and he had explained that the defendant was ‘playing up’. Michelle suggested that Marc leave her in the pub and come back. “The defendant remained by the pub for a further five minutes or so before, also leaving and catching up with him, as he walked back towards Michelle’s address.”
Mr Ash continued back to Long Row but Press went into New Tredegar Rugby Club and didn't leave until 12.10am on July 17. When she returned back to her mother's home her brother Gavin Press was at the property and a dispute ensued as she wanted to know if her ex-partner Mr Allen had been with another woman. Mr Rees told the court: “She began screaming at her brother Gavin Press asking him to tell her who his friend, Ashley Allen, had been ‘shagging’. Michelle Press shouted at them both to be quiet or to leave.
“As she did so the defendant thought she had spat towards her because she grabbed her right arm, calling her ‘disgusting’. Michelle told her to get her hand off her arm at which point the defendant lunged forward with her face hitting the bridge of Michelle’s nose with her teeth causing a cut to the bridge of her nose which started bleeding. Michelle went into her bedroom.”
The court heard how the police were called and Mr Ash tried to calm Press down, saying: “Will you just calm down Bec? What is wrong with you?” Moments later Press burst into her mother’s bedroom in a rage screaming: “I have stabbed your f****** best friend.”
At 12.57am Mr Ash had called 999 but was cut off after five seconds. The police called him back at 12.59am and he explained it was “kicking off” at his neighbour’s house. He said someone had been assaulted and he had been punched. He was told officers were on their way and he thanked them. The 999 call made by Mr Ash was played to the court. He told the operator it was “all kicking off” and people had been assaulted.
The prosecution say at 1.07am Michelle Press had rung the police reporting her daughter had “gone nuts” and headbutted her and asking the police to send someone quickly. The 999 call made by Ms Press was also played to the court. She described it as a “family domestic”.
At 1.09am Ms Press called 999 again requesting an ambulance for someone who had been stabbed. A voicemail lasting one minute and seven seconds was recovered from Michelle Press’ phone and had been left at 1.03am. The defendant can be heard demanding her phone before Gavin Press says: “It’s in here.” During the voicemail Press can be heard saying: “I’m going to hurt Marc. Get my phone mam or I’m going to go in there and stamp on his head. Watch it."
The emergency services attended the scene and found Mr Ash unresponsive and in the recovery position. A Tesco-branded knife with a blade measuring 7.3cm was later recovered by the side of the fridge. The court heard it was heavily bloodstained. At this stage Mr Ash was still alive but pale in colour and his breathing was laboured. A police officer moved his T-shirt to examine him and saw a wound to his upper chest with a small amount of blood escaping from it.
It was agreed by medical professionals to open and lift up Mr Ash’ chest wall to allow the doctor access to his heart. Having done so it was clear the injuries were unsurvivable. Resuscitation was stopped and his death was declared at 2am.
Meanwhile Press had stopped a man in the street and told him: “Get me from here – I need to get from here” but upon seeing police she ran off. She then called Mr Allen’s mother and begged her to pick her up but she refused.
Press was arrested at 3.15am while walking back to her mother’s house. Upon being arrested she was said to have “feigned surprise” and said: “On suspicion of what?... What, has someone died?”
She was taken to a custody suite and was described as “oddly calm and jovial”. A urine sample was taken and substances including alcohol, bromazolam, etizolam, amphetamine, MDMA, and THC were detected. More than 600 tablets containing MDMA and bromazolam were found in her possession. The defendant was asked about Mr Ash and said: “He was my mother’s neighbour. What – he’s dead?”. Upon being told he was she responded: “Oh well.”
In her police interview she gave a prepared statement in which she admitted stabbing Mr Ash but claimed she acted in self-defence after he grabbed her and tried to pin her against the kitchen. Press said she picked up the closest thing to her, a knife, and hit him with it.
She added: “I had no intention to kill Marc. I was acting in self-defence and used reasonable force in the circumstances. Marc is a 6ft-plus man and a lot bigger and stronger than me. I was genuinely in fear for my safety and I did not know what he was capable of doing. I therefore deny the offence of murder as I was acting in self-defence.” The defendant then refused to answer any questions.
Press, of Second Avenue, Trecenydd, Caerphilly, denies the murder of Mr Ash and a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against her mother Michelle Press. The trial, which is estimated to last between two and three weeks, continues.
No need to look.
“feigned surprise” and said: “On suspicion of what?... What, has someone died?”
Hahahahahh.....
“She was taken to a custody suite and was described as “oddly calm and jovial”. A urine sample was taken and substances including alcohol, bromazolam, etizolam, amphetamine, MDMA, and THC were detected.”
In other words, she was loaded. Wow, that is quite a cocktail of drugs. These people are a freaking mess.
She seems nice.
Do you think Laz would hit it?
They walk among us.
“No need to look.”
I looked. What should I do now?
I don’t believe her.
Not guilty! ..........just kidding.
Not GUILTY-Guilty, but guilty enough to be locked up in a cage - by herself!
Femme Fatale.
"It's called the Danger Zone for a reason people. Please remember this. It could save your life"
Now you have to decide where she is on the hot/crazy matrix.
Wrong!
Not wrong. I looked so no one else had to.
Woman Allegedly Plunged Knife Into Man’s Chest Then Left Voicemail Saying: ‘I’ve Murdered Someone’
All the makings of a Monty Python skit
Woman: I’ve murdered someone
Man’s voice: I’m not dead yet
*stab* *stab*
She is as white as can be.
If her name was Tiffany and she was a hairdresser it would be a hat trick, an actual trifecta.
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