THE jury in the trial of a woman accused of stabbing to death her lodger in a row over money has been played a harrowing 999 call made by the accused to the emergency services.

Teesside Crown Court also heard how a paramedic tried to kick in the front door to Julie Gowling’s house in Louisa Street, Darlington, in order to reach the victim, Charlene Walker, since the doors had been locked and the defendant did not have a key.

This led to a delay with police being called and preparing to force entry themselves until Gowling’s partner Kevin Smith arrived and let ambulance staff in.

In the 999 call a frantic sounding Gowling said she had been in a “heated dispute” with Miss Walker who then hit her head on a sink unit and fell onto a kitchen table with “lots of knives”.

Gowling said: “There is blood everywhere. I don’t know if she is dead darling.”

She added: “I am a bit scared. I thought she [Miss Walker] was joking when she said ‘I fell on something’.”

The operator repeatedly asked the defendant if Miss Walker – known as ‘Charlie’– was breathing.

Gowling replied no, adding: “I have tried to give her mouth to mouth. I don’t know what is wrong with her.”

She was then talked through a resuscitation procedure before an ambulance arrives, but said: “I don’t know if I can do it babe.”

Gowling, 44, denies the murder of her 34-year-old friend on December 6 last year in a row about £21 cash that had gone missing.

Roger Anderson, an NHS emergency care technician, said he was given permission to force his way into the property, but failed to break the door after kicking it.

Mr Anderson said it was another ten to 15 minutes earlier before two more ambulance colleagues arrived and thereafter police arrived and began to force entry.

He said: “A gentleman then arrived with a key and with that entry was gained to the premises.”

Once inside he said he saw a female laying on her back in the kitchen. The witness said: “A colleague checked for a pulse, but there was none. She noticed no breathing.

“Defibrillator pads were also applied with no effect.”

Police arrested Gowling – who was described as very agitated and speaking in a slurred fashion – after a stab wound was found under the victim’s right arm.

Dr Jennifer Bolton, a Home Office pathologist, said the wound had been caused by a 25 cm bladed kitchen knife with the force applied causing the victim’s lung to collapse. The blade also sliced into the aorta of the heart, causing rapid and fatal blood loss.

The prosecution have described Miss Walker as a “tragic figure” who was shown kindness by Gowling, who let her stay at her home.

However because of her problems with drugs the victim was not trusted and was suspected whenever anything went missing,

On the day of her death Gowling and Miss Walker had argued about money in a purse which was taken from a sofa.

The defendant is said to have become frustrated by her denials and stabbed her once with a kitchen knife, which she later dumped in a black plastic bag in nearby Thomas Street.

She is also said to have given a number of irreconcilable accounts to police and other witnesses in the aftermath of the incident. The trial continues.