A WOMAN will be sentenced next week following her conviction for the killing of her partner in a stabbing incident after a row at their home.

Nicola Lee, 44, was cleared of the murder of partner Paul Taylor, following a trial at Newcastle Crown Court, but the jury found her guilty of manslaughter.

Mr Taylor, 45, died due to a single stab wound to the chest after the altercation at their South Tyneside home, in the early hours of March 31, this year.

Emergency services were summoned to the property, in Thames Avenue, Jarrow, after receiving a distress call from Lee.

She claimed Mr Taylor had been brandishing a knife, threatening to take his own life.

But she was soon arrested by police, who launched a murder investigation.

Following Lee’s manslaughter conviction, Mr Taylor’s family released a short statement in which they thanked the local community for their support.

It read: “We would like to thank the legal team and Northumbria Police for all their hard work.

“We would also like to thank family, friends and Paul’s friends for their continued support. We could not have got through it without you all.

“Now it’s time for us to grieve for Paul properly and allow him to rest in peace.”

Speaking after the verdicts were passed yesterday, the senior investigating officer in the case, Detective Chief Inspector Alan Cairns, said his thoughts were with Mr Taylor's family following the “tragic and senseless” death of their loved one.

He said: "We know that no sentence will ever make up for what happened to Paul and our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this difficult time.

“Hopefully they can find some comfort in today’s conviction.

“This was an awful incident which resulted in Paul’s death and the consequences of what happened that night will live with Paul’s family for the rest of their lives.”

Lee, who maintained her denials of responsibility for the killing through the trial, is to be sentenced at the court on Wednesday October 30.