A WOMAN accused of murdering an army veteran in Andover had fantasies about carving her name into another person's chest, a jury has heard.
Winter Swan-Miller is on trial at Winchester Crown Court for the murder of Stuart Maxwell Crocker, who was allegedly stabbed to death in the early hours of June 23, 2023.
The defendant claims she was acting in self-defence when she stabbed Mr Crocker, testifying earlier in her trial that he had been trying to rape her and that he had raped her on five previous occasions.
READ MORE: Andover murder trial: Winter Swan-Miller finishes evidence
The trial is being held at Winchester Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)
In her closing comments, Prosecutor Nicola Shannon KC drew the jury’s attention to Swan-Miller having described herself as “sadistic”, as well as detailing her fantasies about using a knife to "carve her name in someone's chest" in a private conversation.
Focusing on Swan-Miller's relationship with Mr Crocker, the prosecution also called into question the idea that the defendant was Mr Crocker’s victim, saying that it was in fact Swan-Miller who manipulated him.
Ms Shannon said: “We submit to you that it certainly wasn’t a case of him controlling her. It is certainly a case of her calling the shots at each stage. She even warns him that she’s taking advantage of him.
“One thing to notice is that Swan-Miller falls out with everybody with whom she’s in contact.”
The prosecution also highlighted “inconsistencies” in the defendant’s account of Mr Crocker’s death, which is that he was on top of Swan-Miller when she stabbed him.
Ms Shannon told the jury: “You may think, ‘How on earth could she have inflicted those injuries if she had a heavy man on top of her?’.”
SEE MORE: Andover murder trial: Winter Swan-Miller gives evidence
Another issue with the defence, according to Ms Shannon, is that the knife Swan-Miller said she used doesn’t match the stab-wounds on Mr Cocker's body.
The prosecution argued that the defendant used a smaller knife in her possession, and not Mr Cocker's knife as she claimed, which she then threw away in a wood after the stabbing.
Ms Shannon added: “If her account were true, don’t you think she would want nothing more to do with that knife? Would she really have been happy just to put it in her bag, carry it away and throw it into the woods?”
Before the prosecution’s closing comments, Her Honour Judge Morris presented a route to verdict to the jury, which is expected to adjourn for deliberations next week.
Gurdeep Garcha KC, defending for Swan-Miller, is expected to give his closing comments at the beginning of next week.
The trial continues.
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