THE face of the woman found guilty of the manslaughter of her friend has been released by police for the first time.

Keegan Barnes, from Thornaby, in Teesside, was found guilty today of the manslaughter of Toni Butler following a trial. 

The Northern Echo:

The 28-year-old, who will be sentenced on Monday, was found not guilty of murder.

She had maintained throughout the trial at Teesside Crown Court that she had acted in self-defence. 

Read more: Toni Butler: Woman found guilty of manslaughter but not guilty of murder

Miss Butler, 25, died after being stabbed twice in the leg last June 10.

The court had heard she had died of catastrophic blood loss after suffering two stab wounds to her calf – one piercing a main vein.

Both women had been drinking and taking drugs in the lead-up to the fatal incident, the court heard. 

The attack happened at Barnes' home in Vulcan Way, Thornaby.

Barnes had told the court she had acted in self-defence after she was attacked by Miss Butler, who she had said was “off her face”.

The court heard Barnes had been lying on the floor after the attack and had grabbed a kitchen knife, stabbing Miss Butler twice in the leg to get her off her.

The Northern Echo:

The defendant had denied deliberately wanting to hurt the woman and said that she did not believe that her injuries would prove to be fatal.

A jury returned its verdict today after seven hours and 14 minutes of deliberations. 

They found her not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter in an 11-1 majority verdict.

Read more: DWP offices to close at Bishop Auckland, Durham and Stockton

 

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