A PARANOID schizophrenic who wanted revenge on a mum-of-one after she claimed he raped her is responsible for her murder, a court heard.

Kelly Pearce, 36, died in a flat belonging to Joseph Withers in Fairlop Avenue, Canvey, after she was attacked with a hammer and stabbed in the face.

Convicted killer Anthony Ayres, 49, who previously served 19 years for strangling girlfriend Dawn Wisdom in 1993, denies her murder.

During the final day of a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday, Oliver Saxby, defending Ayres, said that Withers had a motive to kill Miss Pearce.

The court heard she had claimed Mr Withers sexually assaulted her while she was asleep and began calling him derogatory nicknames Mr Saxby said: “As much as the crown would want you to believe that Joseph Withers is kind and harmless, if Anthony Ayres is not the killer then a prime suspect would be the other person in the house - a paranoid schizophrenic.

“The injuries are horrifying and yet strangely focused on her head and neck.

“These are injuries caused by somebody who has completely lost touch with reality, someone consumed by anger, someone intent on punishing her for what she has said.

“Kelly ridiculed him and belittled him. What could be more distressing and angering for a man than to be called a rapist.

“Somebody he liked was calling him a rapist and that was playing with fire.”

The court heard that Mr Withers had suffered psychotic episodes, which were exacerbated when he took drugs, and he had previously threatened to use a knife.

Mr Saxby added: “Mr Withers said he was there when Anthony Ayres arrived.

“He said for no reason at all, he just flipped.”

The jury has now retired to consider its verdict.