Knife Shown to Jury in Strood Murder Trial; Bloody Weapon Displayed

A knife was shown to the jury. It was six inches long. The knife was allegedly used in a murder. Alan Tomkins died at his home. The blade had blood on it.

Nina Mercer’s murder trial is ongoing. Alan Tomkins was killed last year in Strood. They found his body with a knife sticking out of his back.

Mercer, 43, is accused of stabbing Tomkins, who had previously been convicted as a child sex offender. She allegedly stabbed him at least six times while he was eating pizza. The knife was “deeply embedded”.

Tomkins was 61. He was found dead on July 23 at his home on Gun Lane. Friends worried about him, suspecting he may have been dead for days. The police discovered him inside.

Mercer did not attend the trial, which started on Wednesday, refusing to come. Pathologist Benjamin Swift, who performed a post-mortem report, was questioned.

The report showed ten injuries, including six stab wounds and four smaller wounds, possibly defensive. The fatal wound involved a 17cm knife that went deep into Tomkins.

The knife went through two ribs, piercing his lung and hitting his heart. They asked about the force used, which pathologists categorize as mild, moderate, or severe. Severe implies damage to hard tissue, broken bone.

Since no bone was damaged, the pathologist could only classify the force as moderate. Police were at the scene on Gun Lane. The prosecutor mentioned another wound: a “gaping stab wound” on the back of Tomkins’s neck.

He was also stabbed elsewhere, including his chest, hand, and thumb. Tomkins died from the chest wound. That wound caused internal bleeding, affecting his lung and heart.

The pathologist stated survival was unlikely, even with quick help. Tomkins likely died within minutes. This information was shared with the jury.

The defense asked about wound positions and defensive wounds. However, the pathologist could not know. The defense stated they had a violent relationship.

The pathologist said they moved during the attack. He added that depth does not indicate force. Tomkins drank alcohol the night he died, also ordering pizza.

His alcohol level was high, exceeding the legal driving limit. The pathologist could not determine his drunkenness, as it varies person to person. Mercer allegedly stabbed Tomkins repeatedly, leaving a bad wound on his neck.

She called a friend, Lee Robinson, asking him to help her cover the crime. They went back to the flat. Robinson allegedly stole Tomkins’s wallet, using it to buy groceries and get cashback.

The prosecutor stated that when the pizza arrived, it was likely the last time Tomkins was alive. Mercer returned to the flat several times afterward, which was caught on camera.

She sent Tomkins a text message later, seemingly to cover her tracks. She was arrested at Newark Court. Police were investigating his death in his home.

Robinson is charged with helping an offender, driving Mercer, and helping dispose of evidence. He is also charged with theft and fraud, relating to Tomkins’s wallet and stealing from another person.

Robinson admitted to some theft charges, but denies helping an offender. He allegedly helped dispose of bloody clothes that would have linked Mercer. The trial continues.