Stab victim's husband denies wishing her dead

A MAN whose wife was stabbed to death broke down in an Old Bailey court yesterday when he was asked whether he had anything to do with the crime.

John Shaughnessy, of Battersea, south-west London, replied 'no' and broke down in tears when asked if he had wished his wife, Alison, dead. He shook his head and repeated: 'No.' He admitted spending the night before his wedding in Ireland in June 1990 with Michelle Taylor, who allegedly stabbed Mrs Shaughnessy to death a year later. He insisted they did not have sexual intercourse - although they had done so before.

Miss Taylor, 21, and her sister Lisa, 18, both of Forest Hill, south London, deny murdering Mrs Shaughnessy on 3 June last year. The prosecution claims Miss Taylor hatched a plot with her sister and then stabbed Mrs Shaughnessy 54 times in a jealous rage.

Mr Shaughnessy said that as next-of-kin he received an pounds 18,000 pension because of his wife's death. Edwards, the Great Train robber, told the court that Mr Shaughnessy bought flowers from his stall at Waterloo station on the night of the murder.

Mr Shaughnessy regularly bought flowers for the hospital where he worked. Miss Taylor helped him arrange them.

The trial continues today.