Woman, 28, makes court appearance over alleged murder of her partner in Langley Mill

A provisional trial date has been set

A woman charged with the murder of her partner at their flat in Langley Mill has denied the charge.

Tonia Crabtree, 28, confirmed her name and pleaded not guilty as she appeared over video link from HMP Foston Hall, Derbyshire, at Derby Crown Court.

It is alleged she murdered Craig Morse at the property in Frost Avenue, Langley Mill, during the early hours of April 3, Derbyshire Live reports.

The hearing was told that the issues will be whether or not it was her and not Mr Morse who inflicted the fatal stab wound during a struggle and, if it was her, whether or not she intended to kill the 33-year-old.

And one of the witnesses due to give evidence at the trial, when it takes place, is a pregnant woman who was inside the address at the time of the struggle.

A provisional trial date has been set for September 14 but Judge Nirmal Shant QC, Honorary Recorder of Derby, said that may change due to the Coronavirus situation.

She said: “Miss Crabtree has been quite distressed during this early stages of this hearing and I have set a number of dates by which stage work needs to be done.

“Miss Crabtree, your barrister has explained to me briefly what the issues are in regards to the trial which will take place at this crown court.

“The only issues is that you know we are living through a crisis and I hope that (trial) date can be met and if not there will need to be a further hearing.

“I have been told that in time you will be making a bail application but before you do that your defence team tell me a psychiatric assessment will need to be done on you.

“In the meantime I am remanding you into custody.”

Officers were called to Frost Avenue at around 2am on April 3, where they found 33-year-old Mr Morse with a stab wound.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Crabtree, who was Mr Morse’s partner, was arrested and then charged with his murder.

Adrian Langdale QC, prosecuting, said the only two issues with the trial date of September 14 were firstly whether or not the court would be hearing jury trials by then and, secondly, one of the witnesses, who was in the property at the time, is pregnant and is due to give birth on October 2, just two weeks later.

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Judge Shant asked Clive Stockwell QC, Crabtree’s barrister: “Is the defendant planning to blame anybody else (for causing the fatal wound)?”

He replied: “Not beyond the deceased.

“It may well be the injury was caused by the deceased during the struggle.”

Judge Shant said: “So if it was caused by the defendant, the issue of whether or not it was deliberate or accidental and if it was deliberate what her intention was?”

Mr Stockwell replied: “That’s correct, your honour.”