Jack Ralph trial: Woman and daughter stabbed to death by neighbour 'in blind rage', court hears

Defendant, who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, denies murder and attempted murder

Margaret and Sharon Harris died at their home in Hadlow (PA)

A man suffering from paranoid schizophrenia searched online for “how long for murder” hours before stabbing his next-door neighbours to death, a court has heard.

Jack Ralph killed Margaret Harris, 78, and her daughter Sharon, 55, at their home in Hadlow, Kent, in a “blind rage” on 29 September last year, it is said.

David Harris, 76, survived with serious injuries after the former chef attacked the family with an 8in kitchen knife, a jury at Maidstone Crown Court was told.

The 28-year-old, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia in December 2017, denies murder and attempted murder.

Prosecutor Philip Bennetts said it was not disputed that Mr Ralph had carried out the attack, but the defence had “raised the issue of insanity”.

“It is the prosecution case that, at the material time, that he did know what he was doing was wrong,” Mr Bennetts said. Ralph is said to have made internet searches for “how long for murder” on his phone the day before the killings.

The jury heard that Ralph knocked on the front door of the Harris home on the morning of 29 September and launched a knife attack on his neighbours. He had lived next-door to them for about 18 years and Mr Harris said there had never been any trouble between them.

Mr Harris described how he was stabbed multiple times as he tried to fend off the defendant with a rolling pin.

He called 999 as he lay bleeding on the floor after suffering life-threatening injuries.

Mr Harris told the operator: ”We’ve all been stabbed by a knife.... [he] attacked three of us, my wife, my daughter and myself. Who’s alive and who’s dead I don’t know. We’re all covered in blood.“

When emergency services arrived at the Harris’ home, Ms Harris, who was stabbed in the neck, and her daughter, who was knifed in the chest, were found in the hallway. They were both pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Harris was rushed to hospital after suffering a heart attack and a neck wound, as well as cuts just below his ear, to the back of his neck, and on his forearm.

After he was arrested Ralph, of Carpenters Lane, Hadlow, told police that he was ”in full regret“.

The trial continues.

Additional reporting by PA