Jury hears tape of model Amy death

Jury hears tape of model Amy death

A chilling audio tape of murdered model Amy Leigh Barnes pleading for help in her dying moments has been played to a hushed court.

Two female jurors wiped away tears during the 10-minute recorded 999 call after Mr Justice MacDuff warned them to "steel yourselves" before the recording began.

Ricardo Morrison, of Birmingham, who denies murder on November 8 last year, was not sat in the dock when the tape was played at Manchester Crown Court.

Miss Barnes' mother and father, Karyn Killiner and Andrew Barnes, and their extended family left the courtroom while it was played.

Their daughter had been slashed across the face and stabbed nine times with a kitchen knife moments before the emergency call, it is alleged by her boyfriend, 21-year-old Morrison.

The 19-year-old model and Hollyoaks actress managed to dial 999 on her mobile phone, answered by the BT call operator then transferred to a police call handler. The tape begins with piercing screams and cries from Amy, before she says: "I've been stabbed." Operator: "Emergency, which service do you require?"

A loud screaming is followed by Amy saying: "I can't breathe! I've been stabbed! Please help me! Please help me!" Operator: "She says she's been stabbed." Amy: "I've been stabbed. I'm dying. Please help me!" Operator: "Where are you?" Amy: "26, Moss Street, Farnworth." Operator: "What?" Amy: "Moss Street, Farnworth."

The operator then asks: "What's happened?" Amy: "I'm dying! He's stabbed me to death. I'm dying! Please help me!" Operator: "Who?" Amy: "My boyfriend... I'm going... I can't see." Operator: "Where are you stabbed love?" Amy: "All over my body. I need help. Please help me."

As the life drains out of her, the victim's speech became more and more slurred and she appears to lose consciousness.

Morrison is in the dock accused of murder along with his policewoman mother, Melda Wilks, 49, of Hollyhill Road, Rubery, Birmingham, who is accused of assisting an offender by destroying evidence. Both have pleaded not guilty.