Young mother 'stabbed by partner', court hears

Jason Flore, right, is accused of murdering Stephanie Marie

A young mother was stabbed to death by her partner at a busy West Sussex railway station, a jury has been told.

Stephanie Marie, 19, was found inside a tent in a disused car park with stab wounds after she was reportedly seen arguing with her partner, Jason Flore, by commuters at Crawley station.

A trial at Hove Crown Court heard that Mr Flore told a "tissue of lies" to emergency services after calling an ambulance and leaving the scene on the morning of 18 August, 2024.

Mr Flore, 26, denies murdering Ms Marie.

'Tissue of lies'

A court heard that Mr Flore and Ms Marie, both originally from Mauritius, were reportedly living in makeshift tent camp in the disused station car park.

Patrick Dennis, prosecuting, told the jury that commuters saw Mr Flore and Ms Marie arguing shortly before the alleged attack at 07:10 GMT.

Mr Dennis said Mr Flore called an ambulance at around 07:20, saying "somebody had been stabbed by Crawley train station".

He added: "He [Mr Flore] said she wasn't breathing.

"He said he was leaving her, he didn't want to be there."

Mr Dennis told the jury Mr Flore's account was a "tissue of lies".

The court also heard that CCTV cameras captured Mr Flore discarding heavily bloodstained tracksuit bottoms in a bush.

A knife used in the alleged attack was never recovered, the court was told.

Mr Flore was arrested 45 minutes after the reported incident walking near Three Bridges railway station.

In an defence statement, Benn Maguire told the jury that Mr Flore denied being at the scene and accused two other people of the murder.

Mr Maguire said Mr Flore and Ms Marie had an argument at about 07:00 GMT, after which the defendant left the scene.

He added the attack happened after Mr Flore had left.

The trial continues.