A WOMAN urged her partner to stab her former lover to death after a chance meeting on a crowded commuter train, a court heard.

Claire Park, 26, egged on Sean Clarke, 25, "like a banshee" until he plunged a kitchen knife she had given him into David Moorhouse's chest, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

As the 37-year-old lay dying on the platform, after the trouble spilled out on to Pelaw Metro Station, Gateshead, the couple allegedly told Mr Moorhouse they hoped he would die.

The pair, both of Zetland Street, Darlington, deny murder.

Ms Park had an affair with Mr Moorhouse, but later went back to Mr Clarke, the court heard.

Andrew Robertson QC, prosecuting, said that during Ms Park's relationship with Mr Moorhouse, she had a baby, who was taken into care.

She blamed Mr Moorhouse for her baby being taken away.

The couple bumped into Mr Moorhouse and his friend, Michael Jackson, when they all got on a Metro train at Newcastle's Central Station, on April 29.

When the train pulled away, Ms Park hurled abuse at her former lover before Mr Clarke became involved and started stabbing out at him with a penknife.

When Mr Moorhouse and his friend got off the train at Pelaw, the couple followed and were both brandishing kitchen knives produced from Ms Park's bag.

The court heard how, as Mr Moorhouse tried to fend off Mr Clarke as he tried to knife him, Ms Park said: "Go on, stab him."

Mr Moorhouse, of Cruddas Park, Newcastle, died from a stab wound to the chest. He was found to have a total of six wounds to his body.

The couple fled to Ms Park's mother's house, in Wardley, Gateshead, where they disposed of the murder weapon and the knife she was carrying in a neighbour's garden, the court heard.

They then got a taxi to Ms Park's father's house, in Hebburn, South Tyneside, to borrow money before heading back to Heworth bus station, where they were arrested.

The trial continues.