'Joker' pillow photo shown at attempted murder trial

The pillow bore images of The Joker and the alleged victim (not shown)

Images of fictional villain 'The Joker' on a pillow and a makeshift shelter in a woman's garden have been shown at the trial of a man who is accused of attempting to kill her.

Anthony Yewman, 45, who "identified" as the Batman villain, camped outside his on-off partner's house and later strangled her when she ended their relationship, the jury heard.

Jenny Dalton was attacked at her home in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, in August 2023, Southampton Crown Court was told.

Mr Yewman, of Romford, Essex, denies charges of attempted murder, attempted GBH and intentional strangulation.

Matthew Farmer, prosecuting, previously said the defendant resumed the attack on 30 August after Ms Dalton regained consciousness and stopped him from turning a knife on himself.

He told the jury: "She, helpless, vulnerable and scared after the first attack, describes him lifting her on to the bed, placing both his hands around her neck and trying with all his might to squeeze the life out of her."

Mr Farmer previously said the attack stopped only when Ms Dalton's 21-year-old daughter Juliette banged on the door and called the police.

Mr Yewman camped in Ms Dalton's garden for a number of days before being arrested, the jury heard

The barrister said the pair had a "difficult" on-off relationship for about two years.

The jury was shown a photograph of a pillow adorned with a picture of The Joker as well as the face of Ms Dalton.

The quote "Why so serious?" from the Batman film The Dark Knight is shown over the movie villain's image.

Ms Dalton's face is attached to one end of the pillow.

Another photo showed a makeshift shelter in her garden, which the defendant occupied for a number of days before he was arrested, Mr Farmer said.

The jury also viewed an image of chalk graffiti by the defendant on her wall which stated: "Met my soulmate when met you."

The prosecutor said: "He became more and more obsessed about her. She describes significant controlling behaviour by him and his stalking was such that she couldn't get away from him."

The court previously heard Mr Yewman followed her to a women's refuge in East Sussex and persuaded her to return to Hampshire, before carrying out the attack.

The defendant told police he acted in self-defence "after she grabbed him", the jury was told.

The trial continues.