Woman tells Telford murder trial of being 'scared for her life' during beating before partner found dead
The partner of a man whose death sparked a murder investigation told how she was "scared for her life" when he beat her up before he was found dead.
Carlene Garrett's partner Anthony Wootton was found slumped in a car park a couple of streets away from the home they shared in Armstrong Close, Woodside, Telford on Monday, July 17 last year. Their neighbour, Ashley Harris, is on trial for Mr Wootton's murder at Stafford Crown Court.
The court had earlier been told that Harris, aged 32, and 41-year-old Mr Wootton, ended up in a street brawl the day before Wootton was found. That came after he assaulted Ms Garrett at home, leaving her with a black eye, strangulation injuries and multiple bruises.
Ms Garrett gave evidence to the jury, setting out her ordeal at the hands of Mr Wootton.
She said that her son, Reece Davies, who also lived with the couple, had earlier been involved in a row with Mr Wootton over food and money on Sunday, July 16. Both men punched a bedroom door before Mr Wootton "threatened to batter" Mr Davies.
"I told them both to leave," Ms Garrett said. Mr Davies stayed elsewhere that night, but Mr Wootton returned home at around 5pm, the court was told. It was then that Ms Garrett said he attacked her.
"He punched me in the face, in my right eye," she tearfully told Darron Whitehead, prosecuting. "I was shocked, I shouted 'what did you do that for?'
"I tried to leave the bedroom and he wouldn't allow me to."
