'He continued to try to stab her... he kept saying she needed to die'

A WOMAN fought for her life after her partner of 30 years emerged from the bathroom and “out of the blue” told her she needed to die before stabbing her in the chest.

- By POPPY KENNEDY

Clint Thompson stabbed, strangled and tried to suffocate his now former partner with a pillow - and when that “didn’t work” he made her take an overdose of paracetamol in an ordeal that spanned more than 16 hours.

Now, he’s been jailed for 15 years, and will serve an additional five years on extended licence, after he admitted attempted murder and false imprisonment.

On the morning of April 23 this year, Thompson’s partner awoke at 8.30am and the defendant was already in the bathroom of their Hartlepool flat.

She waited outside and when he opened the door she saw a large slash across his neck. When she asked him what had happened, he said: “Never mind about my neck, you need to die”

Paul Rooney, prosecuting, said: “He stabbed her with a large knife to her chest.’

Thompson advanced towards the woman and stabbed her again and she fled to the bedroom.

Mr Rooney said: “He continued to try to stab her. He kept saying she needed to die. Fearing for her life, she started to fight back”

The woman was stabbed in the bicep, thigh and her hand was slashed as she tried to take the knife from Thompson.

“She didn’t give up, she was fearful he was going to kill her. This time she managed to get [the knife from him] and threw it under the bed,’ said Mr Rooney.

Thompson, 49, grabbed a pillow and placed it over her face in an attempt to smother her but his then-partner got to her feet. He dragged her back to the floor and was continually saying she needed to die. He strangled her until she lost consciousness.