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A mother accused of repeatedly knifing a friend at a birthday party after taking cocaine has claimed she acted in self defence.
Gemma Sparks, 38, is said to have slashed Kimberly King’s torso and limbs six times during a fight in Herne Bay in August 2020.
But the mother-of-one today told jurors she was unaware how Miss King became injured after “flying” at her with a blade.
“I saw the knife coming towards my forehead. I can’t tell you how (the wounds) happened,” she said, taking the stand at Canterbury Crown Court.
“(Kimberly) just came flying at me with the knife and stabbed me in the head with it, I spun her around and then threw (the knife) and ran,” Sparks told jurors.
“My face was pouring with blood when I got back in the car, my friend said I looked like something out of Freddy Kruger, and they were wiping me down.”
The pair clashed in the doorway of Miss King’s family home during a celebration for her brother Darren’s birthday.
Sparks said after taking a line of cocaine during a trip to the amusement arcade, Miss King invited her to the address in Sunnyhill Road to collect owed money.
But rather than handing her the £50, Miss King attacked her with a knife, Sparks said.
However, prosecutors argued Sparks’ injuries were inconsistent with a knife wound.
Photos of her injuries presented in court showed slight parting of the skin to her forehead and beneath her right eye, accompanied with bruising.
“It is a small cut isn’t it, to your head,” said Peter Forbes: “Did you seek any medical attention?”
"No,” Sparks replied.
“Is this right, that you brought a knife with you?” Asked Mr Forbes.
“No,” said Sparks.
“Is this right, that you decided you were going to use that on Kim King before you even got there?”
“No.”
“It’s true isn’t it, that you attacked her with a knife,” Mr Forbes went on.
“No, no,” Sparks said.
“There was no need to cut her on the arm, and the other arm and in the back of her shoulder.
“Is this right, that you intended to cause her really serious injury and that is why you injured her with a knife?”
“No, no,” Sparks said.
“Is this right, that you left this scene in a hurry because you knew that you were in big trouble?”
“No, because we were scared.”
“Is this right, that you didn’t contact the police because you knew you were at fault?” said Mr Forbes.
“No,” said Sparks.
The court heard Miss King suffered six wounds to her body and, after being rushed by road to Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital, was discharged on August 16.
Darren King, Kimberly's brother, told how his birthday party descended into chaos following the violence.
He described seeing his sister “sitting in a chair in the kitchen with wounds over her body."
“Everyone (was) panicking trying to hold them together,” he continued.
Meanwhile officers continued to hunt for Sparks when PC Ames detected her red Vauxhall Astra on the M2 during the afternoon of August 21.
After being stopped, Sparks claimed “three blokes came out” when the officer approached her, then pointed to a mark on her forehead, adding: “That is where she stabbed me, she threw the knife in the garden, did you find it?”
Following her arrest, Sparks, formerly of Herne Bay but now living in London, denied the assault in a prepared statement at Canterbury Police Station.
She stands trial for wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article.
The trial continues.
