Information on Loughborough

Woman found guilty of Manslaughter

Posted on 05/08/2009

police,constabulary,leicestershire police Woman found guilty of Manslaughter Sally Ann Wood

Sally Ann Wood

A 35-year-old woman has today been found guilty of manslaughter.

Sally Ann Wood of Wyville Row in Leicester was found guilty of killing her partner of 8-years, Stephen Matthew Vidal.

The incident happened in the early hours of Friday January 2 after both Wood and Vidal had spent the day together drinking at a friend’s house. In the taxi on the way home they had an argument and both stopped the taxi and got out.

The argument continued and on Carlton Street Vidal received a single knife wound to the chest. The weapon, a kitchen knife, was dumped by Wood on Pelham Way. She then returned home and called the police.

The family are planning to release a statement in due course.

Following the verdict, Detective Superintendent Julia McKechnie, who led the investigation, said: “We hope that this verdict helps Stephen’s friends and family to move on with their lives following their tragic loss. I would like to thank those witnesses who came forward to help the investigation as they were able to provide valuable evidence.

“Early in the New Year people saw the reports that a man had been killed in the street. This trial has enabled us to talk about the background and history to this case. We know that on the day of the incident Sally Wood had been drinking heavily and smoking drugs. We know that she and Stephen had taken a taxi together then both got out before reaching their home after having an argument. We know that this all formed the catalyst that lead to Stephen’s death.

“They were so close to the Leicester Royal Infirmary, she could have run and got help, she could have phoned for an ambulance. But instead she got into a taxi and went home and called the police.”