Pensioner: Ex-husband stabbed me in Church Stretton street

An elderly man repeatedly stabbed his ex-wife, plunging a knife into her before cutting his own throat as they stood in the street, a court heard today.

Rosemary Ann Parton suffered injuries to her eye, neck and arm during the attack by Leonard Parton in Church Stretton, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told.

And, believing he had killed his ex-wife, Parton turned the knife on himself, prosecutor Mr Andrew Barkley said.

Parton, of Upper Galdeford, Ludlow, is charged with attempting to murder the victim, known as Ann, on May 19 last year but has been deemed unfit to plead.

Mr Barkley told the court the attack happened in Sandford Avenue.

He said Parton, whom his wife divorced in 2007 after nearly 42 years of marriage and three children, had been banned from Church Stretton and contacting her.

The court heard Mrs Parton noticed her ex-husband at a bus stop near where she was standing.

Mr Barkley said: "He approached her as she stood on the pavement with her sister and sister's daughter-in-law. He took out the knife from his jacket. He opened the blade on that knife and he stabbed her repeatedly, plunging the knife in her face, neck and arm.

"She fell to the floor at one point, believing he had killed her. He then turned the knife onto himself and then proceeded to cut his own throat."

See also:

• Church Stretton in shock after street stabbing

• Church Stretton stab pair in hospital