A court’s heard how an Island woman was stabbed to death after an argument about whether she’d return to the Isle of Man with her son.

Tina Casey’s mother-in-law Heather Emmonds killed the 42 year old at her home in Holywell near Whitley Bay in February this year.

She denies murder on the grounds of loss of control and diminished responsibility.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Mrs Casey, nee Halsall, was planning to return to the Isle of Man with her son – and Mrs Emmonds feared she’d never see her grandson again.

The prosecution claims 58-year-old Mrs Emmonds twice tried to poison Mrs Casey before eventually stabbing her 15 times with a filleting knife while her son was upstairs.

Afterwards, Mrs Emmonds took her grandson to his father’s house before going to play bingo, jurors heard.

Police discovered the crime after she crashed her car and they found handwritten notes about the crime inside.

Alistair MacDonald QC, prosecuting, told the court Mrs Emmonds carefully planned the murder - taking a change of clothes and burning bloodstained garments afterwards.

The trial continues.