Greenwich woman found guilty of "frenzied" knife attack

The two incidents took place within minutes of each other and resulted in the death of Mrs Hodkin, age 58, and left 25-year-old Kerry Clark with serious injuries.

The court heard how in the early hours of 10 October 2011, the defendant had been seen by healthcare professionals at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, but had then decided to leave.

After making her way to Asda in Bexleyheath by bus, she bought a 12-inch packaged knife and targetted Ms Clark outside a Snappy Snaps shop nearby.

Edgington lunged at her with the knife and, fearing that she was about to be stabbed, Ms Clark swiftly moved out the way falling backwards against the shutters of the shop. As she fell to floor Edgington pursued her to the ground and jumped on top of her still wielding the knife.

In a desperate attempt to save her life Ms Clark grabbed the blade of the knife with her bare hand, sustaining serious injuries to her fingers. A struggle ensued and after a few moments she managed to loosen Edgington's grip taking the knife from her.

Ms Clark freed herself from underneath Edgington and both women stood to their feet. A short standoff between the two followed before Edgington turned and calmly walked away heading down Bexleyheath High Street.

Edgington made her way to the far side of the Broadway and moments later entered a butcher's shop and took a knife much larger than the one purchased at the supermarket.

Holding the knife above her head she pointed it towards one of butchers closest to her. He immediately ran towards the back of the shop shouting to his colleagues that Edgington had a knife. Armed once more she left the butcher's shop running down the street towards Albion Road.

As she neared the bowling alley, Edgington came across Mrs Hodkin, who had recently left her home for work.

Edgington approached and stabbed her in the neck. Mrs Hodkin collapsed to ground with Edgington following her as she fell and continued to stab her while she lay on the floor.

Edgington then stood up and walked away heading back up Albion Road; on hearing police sirens she broke into a run as she approached the Broadway and ran into a tile shop.

Police arrived and arrested her.

Detective Chief Inspector Graeme Gwyn of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command [HSCC], said:

"For Sally Hodkin her day had started out like any other, she too was making her way into work, when she suffered a violent death at the hands of Nicola Edgington.

Sally's family has had to endure the painstaking details of the death of their loved one and they have shown great dignity during this trial, having attended court every day.

"This case has been a complex one and my team of officers has worked tirelessly to piece together what happened that day. We were greatly assisted by CCTV from the surrounding streets and the picture that emerged was a deeply shocking one.

"I would like to personally thank the witnesses who came forward to help us with this case as their assistance has helped us to secure today's verdict and hopefully this will brining some form of closure for those affected."

A date for sentence has not yet been set.