Mum who bled to death murder trial - jury out

Paul Irwin previously admitted the manslaughter of Tiffany Render, but denies her murder

Jurors have retired to decide whether a man murdered his on-off partner who bled to death.

Paul Irwin, 50, had denied murdering and sexually assaulting 34-year-old Tiffany Render, but admitted her manslaughter.

Carlisle Crown Court heard Miss Render died of a massive haemorrhage at Irwin’s flat in George Street, Whitehaven, Cumbria, on 22 March after both had consumed alcohol and cocaine.

Irwin entered a guilty plea to sexual assault on Wednesday after advice from his legal team.

He had pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter on Monday.

A pathologist had previously told the trial, Miss Render had been subjected to "repeated blows", blunt force trauma and the use of "severe force".

In his closing speech to the jury, prosecutor Iain Simkin KC called it a "vulgar and unpleasant" case.

He said: "We know Irwin killed her. We know he unlawfully killed her.

"What remains for you to decide is: what was his intention at the time he killed her?"

For the defence, Peter Glenser KC said Irwin and Miss Render had lived lives which were "chaotic, sadly".

Mrs Justice Foster said the only verdict she could accept at this stage was a unanimous one, on which all 12 agreed.

She also said they had to be "sure" that Irwin intended either to kill Miss Render or cause her really serious bodily harm to find him guilty of murder.