A defendant in a ‘love triangle’ murder trial denied being the one who had ‘manipulated everyone’.
Louise Grieve, 38, is said by prosecutors to have encouraged younger lover Mark Meadows, 25, to have fatally stabbed her partner, Keith Green.
The 40-year-old, with whom she had two children, died in the garden of the home they shared at 42 Howard Road, Banbury, on the eve of Valentine’s Day.
READ MORE: Lawyers for Grieve's co-accuseds cross-examine her in witness box
Cross-examining Grieve at Oxford Crown Court on Friday, prosecutor Vanessa Marshall KC accused her of manipulating Meadows into carrying out the fatal act.
“Whereas you were not the one that physically stuck the knives into your partner, you were on the sideline throughout – encouraging Mark to get rid of Keith, weren’t you?” the barrister pressed.
“No, not the case,” Grieve replied.
Ms Marshall alleged: “You manipulated everyone.”
Grieve hit back: “I must be a genius if I can do that.”
The mum, who denies murder, refuted suggestions from the Crown that she was ‘winding’ Meadows up by speaking to him about how Mr Green was apparently ill-treating her.
READ MORE: Prosecutor begins opening allegations in Banbury 'murder' trial
The prosecutor read from messages sent by Grieve to Meadows, including one that referenced her then long-bearded lover’s nickname. “We need Jesus so much in our lives. I love you immensely,” she had written.
Grieve denied that a mention in one text to how winning a £20,000 Heart Radio competition would solve their ‘problems’ was a reference to partner Keith Green, simply that it would enable her to buy a minibus to carry all her children and would mean they could holiday together.
“That [was] the problem. We had no money. We never had any money,” she told the jury.
Accused of ‘winding’ Meadows up, Grieve said: “No, not at all.”
She denied giving the younger man ‘free rein’ or ‘permission’ to Meadows to ‘get rid’ of Mr Green.
Grieve said of the mention of ‘free rein’ in one phone message, which was not sent to or by her: “It’s messages I know nothing about.”
The woman maintained that she had spent the ‘entire time’ trying to keep Mr Green and Meadows separate.
Five, including Grieve and Meadows, deny murder. The trial continues.
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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.
To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward
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