Yahoo News Ex-boyfriend admits manslaughter of university student, 23, found stabbed to death in car park
The former boyfriend of a woman found stabbed to death in a shopping centre car park has denied murder.
Joshua Stimpson, 26, pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder when he appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday, accused of killing university student Molly McLaren.
Instead, the court heard he will plead guilty to manslaughter of Molly, 23, on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
Stimpson will stand trial in January.
He was remanded in custody.
His barrister Oliver Saxby QC told the court that Stimpson accepted ‘the offence of manslaughter and if it was on the indictment and he was arraigned, he would plead guilty today.’
He added that two psychiatric reports had been prepared on Stimpson, who was remanded in custody until his trial on January 22.
The trial is expected to last two weeks.
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Stimpson was arrested at the scene outside the Dockside Outlet in Maritime Way, Chatham, Kent, just after 11am on June 29.
Kent Police said the 23-year-old Molly died from injuries consistent with being stabbed.
The force said the pair were known to each other.
Following her death, friends and family set up the Molly McLaren Foundation.
It has so far raised more than £15,000 to donate toward charities which support people with eating disorders, according to a JustGiving page.
The case has also been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
The ICC will look into Miss McLaren’s contact with officers before her death.
