A woman accused of murdering a pub landlord has revealed to a jury she had previously been jailed for drug smuggling.

Stephanie Langley is on trial accused of stabbing former brother-in-law Matthew Bryant to death outside the Hare and Hounds in Maidstone on September 11 last year.

The 54-year-old denies murder and the alternative offence of manslaughter, but previously admitted possessing a knife.

The prosecution alleges the East Farleigh resident fatally stabbed Mr Bryant outside the pub he had run for 15-years in an “irrational but deliberate” attack.

As she took the stand yesterday (April 17), she was questioned by defence barrister, David Cooper, about the crime she was jailed for.

The jury heard she was sentenced on March 15, 1996, for fraudulent evasion of a prohibition by bringing a Class A drug into the UK.

She was jailed for 14 years, which was later reduced to 11 on appeal.

Langley said: “I pleaded not guilty, but I was found guilty.

“I was convicted of bringing class A drugs into this country, but I just hired a van in my name and I was driving it, yes, when the drugs were discovered and we were all arrested.

“It was a large amount, but I don’t recall exactly, but quite a few kilos and it was cocaine.”

Upon her release on licence in 2001/02 she went to live with her parents in Maidstone and started a relationship with a man called Davey.

He’d worked on a farm connected to the East Sutton Park Prison where she’d served her sentence.

She went on to work at a care home looking after people with special needs and did some bar work and gardening until her son was born in 2003. She and Davey split after about five years.

Before Langley, of Wilsons Lane, took the stand, the jury heard how as Mr Bryant lay bleeding on the pavement, she held her hands in the air in a fist motion as she realised he’d died.

They were told this by lead detective, DC Hannah Crittenden, who was questioned by prosecutor, Nina Ellin.

The officer confirmed a still taken from CCTV footage outside the pub showed passers-by and others trying to help Mr Bryant as he lay face down on the pavement - rolling him onto his back to give first aid.

As they did so, his head slipped onto the kerb and he appeared “limp and lifeless”.

It was at this point, 54-year-old Langley was captured on the footage raising her fists.

DC Crittenden was also asked about the still - taken after 6.08pm - and what it actually showed.

She confirmed Langley is seen with her hand on her cheek but as he was rolled over, she made the fist gesture.

The court previously heard how although once related by marriage, Langley had not seen Mr Bryant for more than 20 years.

This was until an incident in March or May last year when she joined her son, Cameron Langley-McColm, and his girlfriend, Shannon Cooney, for a drink at the Lower Boxley Road pub.

Mr Bryant was stabbed three times - twice in the back and once in the chest, with that wound proving fatal within seconds and having penetrated 20cm deep into his body and through his heart.

CCTV captured their encounter, including the moment Mr Bryant offered her the chance to speak to police herself, after he’d dialled 999 when she made threats to kill him.

However, Langley knocked the phone from his hand and as he went to retrieve it from the road, he was stabbed.

Previously the jury was told Langley told her son Mr Bryant had been violent to a woman she knew, had committed rape, and that she “hated him”.

While she was under arrest at the scene, Langley was overheard repeatedly remarking she had killed him and that she was glad she’d done it and was happy to go to jail.

Earlier this week, the Crown Prosecution Service South East released video footage showing the moments before and after Mr Bryant was attacked.

The trial continues.