A WOMAN accused of killing an army veteran in Andover has told a court that her co-defendant didn’t know about the stabbing.

Winter Swan-Miller is on trial at Winchester Crown Court charged with the murder of Stuart Maxwell Crocker. 

The 62-year-old was found dead at The Signals, in New Street, Andover, on June 28, last year.

Police investigations found that Mr Crocker might have been killed in the early hours of June 23, but was only discovered five days later when a neighbour phoned 999 concerned for his welfare.

READ MORE: Court updates: Woman accused of Andover murder gives evidence in trial

Edward Jones, of Lancaster Avenue, Walsall, is a co-defendant in the case for allegedly providing accommodation and social media access for Swan-Miller for one week from June 23, 2023.

Giving evidence on Wednesday, July 10, Swan-Miller told court that she stabbed Mr Crocker as self-defence while he was trying to rape her.

The cross-examination of Swan-Miller began on Thursday, July 11, with prosecutor Nicola Shannon KC and Jones’ defence counsel Zafar Ali KC probed her recollection of events, seeking clarity and truth in a case marred by violence and drug abuse.

Mr Ali concluded his cross-examination after hearing from Swan-Miller that co-defendant Jones was unaware of the murder.

She also said she was using TikTok from his phone. She added that Jones withdrew money from Mr Crocker’s debit card upon her order and without knowing that it didn’t belong to her.

Ms Shannon highlighted discrepancies in Swan-Miller's statements, suggesting her account of self-defence and her recollection of using a knife were being revealed for the first time only in court.

“Back on the first and second of July last year you were interviewed by police. In not one of those interviews you gave the account you have given us today,” the prosecutor asked.

“This is the first time you have said that you were attacked by Stuart. This is the first time you said he was going to kill you and you had to defend yourself. This is the first time you have described the knife that you used. The first time that you have described to the court what happened to the knife.”

When asked why she had not previously mentioned being attacked by Mr Crocker, Swan-Miller responded, "I was advised not to say anything" and added that she was in "a state of shock" and "recovering from drugs".

The prosecution pressed on Swan-Miller's admission of violence under the influence of crack cocaine.

She acknowledged past violent thoughts and actions but maintained that her usage of words were only “expressions” and was mostly directed towards those who harmed her or her dog, Oblivion.

Another point of contention was Swan-Miller’s recorded conversation expressing sadistic tendencies, which she attributed to drug-induced incoherence.

SEE ALSO: Andover murder: Swan-Miller says she stabbed to avoid rape

Ms Shannon suggested that Swan-Miller had tried to manipulate Mr Crocker into saying incriminating things on tape, but she denied this, saying that her intent was to document the abuse she endured.

"I mainly recorded him for my own sake to realise what he was doing," she said.

The prosecutor also revisited a 2009 incident where Swan-Miller had been violent and another incident when she cut a friend with a pair of scissors.

The trial continues.