Bishop's Waltham woman found guilty of trying to murder her friend over a £3,900 bingo debt

Jurors at Portsmouth Crown Court returned a unanimous verdict in under two-and-a-half hours to convict Paula Ayres, 51, after her brutal stabbing of 63-year-old friend Julie Page who was ‘left for dead’ after the brutal attack in her own home.

Ayres, who refused to give evidence during the trial, remained motionless when the verdict was returned before offering a half-smile as she was taken down.

There were cheers of joy and anguish as supporters of both sides reacted to the verdict in the packed public gallery.

Judge Roger Hetherington said: ‘The sentence will be one of a substantial period in custody.’

Ayres had attempted to ‘pull the wool over the jury’s eyes’ following the chilling ambush at the victim’s Oak Road home in Bishop’s Waltham on July 22 last year after claiming she never intended to kill her friend of 20 years.

Ayres had admitted grievous bodily harm with intent and theft but denied attempted murder.

But jurors decided that Ayres had gone to Mrs Page’s house in a ‘premeditated attack’ to silence her friend who became suspicious of £3,900 being stolen from her marital bank account.

Ayres used a ‘ruse’ by sending away mutual friend Angela Edwards to fetch some Coffee Mate so the coast was clear for her to murder Mrs Page.

Ayres then embarked on her relentless attack that saw her plough a Stanley knife into the victim’s neck twice after ‘lunging at her from behind’ and holding her head in a ‘vice-like grip’.

She then stabbed her prey five times in the back and ripped her ear when pulling out an earring.

Mrs Page said during her evidence: ‘She put her hands around my neck. I thought “Christ what’s going on?”

‘I said to Paula: “What’s wrong with you? Why are you doing this?”’

The victim was then forced to ‘play dead’ before Ayres left her on the floor - only to be arrested by police shortly after, having put the knife in her washing machine to cover-up her crime.

Ayres’ calculating actions were laid bare by her pretence of normality in offering her friend Ms Edwards a cup of tea.

But by ‘offering no defence’ and faced with ‘overwhelming’ evidence the jury saw through Ayres.

Prosecutor Simon Jones said in summing up: ‘If you are going for someone’s neck as the first point of contact after lunging from behind and you slit her throat then the ferocity of that attack reveals her intention.’

Ms Edwards, speaking after the verdict, said: ‘I’m glad she was found guilty. I hope she gets a long sentence.’

Ayres, of Willow Road, Bishop’s Waltham, will be sentenced tomorrow. She has been remanded in custody until then.