Published Date:
14 December 2006
A STEROID abusing bodybuilder who strangled his partner had previously wrapped a telephone wire round her neck and bitten her cheek, a court was told.
A murder trial was told Ian Craig Grant, 37, had attacked Lisa Wood five years before killing her on June 1.
The court also heard Grant – who owns hair
salons in Kirkham and Cleveleys – had a violent temper and five years ago committed a vicious attack on a man in his home.
Joanne Loundes told the jury the defendant was in an "absolute blind rage" and left "blood splattered on the walls" after the attack on two of his partner's friends.
Ms Loundes told of an evening when she had stayed at the couple's former home on St Georges Avenue, Cleveleys.
The three had been to a wedding before returning home when two other guests showed up late at night.
Ms Loundes said: "They had been in the house for a good hour before Craig came down.
"He flung open the door and lifted me up by the shoulders and put me in the hall.
"He was in an absolute blind rage. A punch from Craig would kill you.
"When it was over I went back in and there was blood splattered on the walls. He had punched one of the lads who was very badly injured to his face."
Grant of Lauderdale Avenue, Anchorsholme, admitted to police he killed his partner of 14 years – the mother of their nine-year-old son Joe – but denies it was murder.
He claims he was provoked into the act after five years of torment and abuse at the hands of Miss Wood which culminated on the night she died when he claims she called him "pathetic" and told him she was leaving to "find a real man".
But Ms Loundes claimed the couple had violent rows and her friend Miss Wood, 36, had wanted to leave Grant for around five years.
She said: "She told me about an argument they had when he had a telephone wire around her neck and he bit her cheek.
"It was on her right cheek, it wasn't very prominent, but you could tell. I don't think the skin was broken, but you could see the red mark of teeth."
During the trial, police described finding anabolic steroids in Grant's car and blood tests.
Officers read out the transcription of Grant's interview with police from the day after the killing.
In the 90-minute interview Grant described the events of June 1 and how he felt he had become "a glorified babysitter " while his partner partied with friends.
He said: "I've lost the woman I love."
(Proceeding)
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Location:
Blackpool