Newbury woman stabbed ex-partner with six inch knife

Court told how she sent a text message saying she was "going to murder" father of child

A NEWBURY woman sent a text message to her mental health support worker saying she was “going to murder” the father of her child before plunging a six-inch steak knife into his chest.

At a three-day trial at Reading Crown Court this week, a jury of seven women and five men were told how 50-year-old Ysanne Masterman wounded her ex-partner at his home in St John’s Road, Newbury, on March 29 last year.

Matthew Farmer, prosecuting, said that the knife was aimed to the left of the sternum, “just in the right position to stab someone through the heart with force”.

The court heard how the 73-year-old victim, James Ranson-Barber, was sitting in his chair in the living room when Ms Masterman “came quickly towards him in a deliberate way” with the weapon in her hand.

Mr Farmer said that Mr Ranson-Barber, who has since died from natural causes not connected with the attack, had “stood up to meet her” and grabbed hold of the knife and her wrist, but was thrown back into his chair by the force of the knife thrusting downwards.

In his statement given to police the day after the incident and read out to the court, Mr Ranson-Barber said: “The knife was horizontal to her head and ready to thrust. I immediately tried to get up as I knew her intention was to stab me.

“She was still exerting pressure and I was still trying to restrain her. She was trying to have another go.

“I thought how am I going to get out of this and am I going to be strong enough?”

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“I think then she became aware of the blood and her behaviour changed. She got some towels to help me."

The jury was then played a four minute 999 call from Mr Ranson-Barber, in which he said: "I have been stabbed," before telling the call handler that he'd "lost a lot of blood".

In the background a female voice can be heard saying: "I've stabbed in the hand and the heart".

Mr Ranson-Barber then said: "Put that in the kitchen please, put that knife in the kitchen please. Go on, put that in the kitchen please. Do not have it when the police arrive."

When police arrived at the property, the court heard, they saw Ms Masterman standing outside with a dog on a lead in her left hand and the knife in the other. She then threw the knife in the bushes at the front of the property and told officers " “I think you need to get up there, he is really hurt”.

Following the attack, Mr Ranson-Barber was flown by air ambulance to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital and although he didn’t require urgent treatment, was kept under observation by cardiothoracic chest surgeons.

He was treated for lacerations to his hands caused by the blade of the knife, as well as a 1cm puncture wound to his upper abdomen.

Ms Masterman was cautioned and taken into custody before being assessed by mental health teams. She was detained and spent four months at Reading's Prospect Park hospital before being arrested and charged.

The court heard how Mr Ranson-Barber –or “the Barb” as Ms Masterman often referred to him – had persuaded his ex-partner to move to Newbury around ten years ago so he could help support her as a friend and provide financial assistance.

The night before the attack Ms Masterman - who usually resides at Garland Court in Newbury - stayed at Mr Ranson-Barber's home which he shares with their son Alfie.

The court heard that the following morning, Mr Ranson-Barber had "told her off" for smoking in the house - something he objected to due to his heart condition.

She had also become “increasingly uptight and upset” after being told that her mental health support worker was unable to see her that day due to other commitments.

Mr Ranson-Barber said in his statement: "I could tell straight away that she was annoyed.She was an angry quiet as if something was boiling up."

Later that day, the court heard, she sent a message saying: "I'm going to murder The Barb".

He added that he had become worried about her mental state in the days leading up to the attack and that she was telling him that people were outside his house who wanted to kill him.

Defending, John Simmons said his client had been "desperate" to meet her mental health support worker and showed the court the phone records showing a series of missed calls, voicemails and text messages on the days leading up to March 29.

He said that she was "clearly suffering" and added that Ms Masterman thought Mr Ranson-Barber was angry and she was worried about what he may do.

Ms Masterman pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and an alternative charge of causing grevious bodily harm by wounding with intent.

She did however, plead guilty to a lesser offence of reckless wounding.

The jury reached a verdict had retired to consider its verdict as the NWN went to press.