Man guilty of murdering pregnant woman, 21

A MAN is facing life in jail after being convicted of the murder of a pregnant woman he stabbed in a random street attack.

A jury took just over 30 minutes to find Alan McMullan guilty of the murder of Claire Wilson, 21, who was stabbed in the back as she walked to work in Grimsby on Sunday, June 7 last year. Her unborn daughter also died.

Her family and friends shouted "Yes" when the verdict was announced, then cried and hugged each other while McMullan, 54, stood impassive in the dock with his arms folded.

Judge Michael Mettyear will sentence him today.

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McMullan had visited a police station three times over a two-month period in 2008, armed with a knife and saying voices in his head were ordering him to kill. But after a third visit to a psychiatric unit doctors said he was exaggerating his symptoms just to get a bed.

Det Supt Chris Kelk, who led the investigation, said she was delighted the jury had seen through McMullan's "lies" after a seven-day trial at Hull Crown Court.

But after the verdict, a leading mental health charity said the case had nonetheless raised questions about the way McMullan had been handled by the health service, and called for an inquiry.

Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of SANE, said: "This is a tragic case for Claire Wilson's family. We believe, however, that deeper questions about the extent of the care and treatment offered to Alan McMullan have not been answered by this trial."

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The Strategic Health Authority for Yorkshire and the Humber said it would now commission an independent investigation into the case.

Mrs Kelk said: "I think it's testimony to the jury's insight that they saw through McMullan and as quickly as they did.

"Alan McMullan is guilty of murdering Claire and diminished responsibility was never an issue for police. He's tried his best to hoodwink the justice system and I am delighted he didn't get away with it."

Mrs Kelk said the only motive McMullan appeared to have for the killing was his own self-interest.

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Miss Wilson's father Stuart, 50, read a short statement outside the court on behalf of the family and her partner, Adam Kennard, in which he said they would never forgive McMullan. Her mother, Deborah, 49, described him as a "monster."