Warwick student on anti-psychotics slashed friend’s face

Stephanie Roberts, 20, is accused of attacking her friend with a kitchen knife after taking a cocktail on anti-psychotic drugs and alcohol

A 20-year-old woman attacked her student friend with a kitchen knife after taking a cocktail of booze and anti-anxiety drugs, a court heard.

Stephanie Roberts slashed Ravi Benitez, 19, across the face when she came to visit him at university.

A court heard Ms Roberts had taken anti-anxiety drug Xanax before going out drinking with Mr Benitez and his friends on November 24 last year.

When they returned to Mr Benitez’s flat at Warwick University which he shared with other students, Roberts attacked him with a 6 inch kitchen knife.

Mr Benitez suffered slash wounds before a security guard managed to wrestle the blade out of Roberts’ hands.

Roberts, of South Kensington, London, admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm when she appeared at Warwick Crown Court on Friday.

The court heard Mr Benitez and Roberts had known each-other for several years when she traveled from her home in London to visit him.

When she was arrested she told police one of his friends had said she was ‘crazy,’ which had led to a confrontation between her and Mr Benitez.

Mr Benitez then took Roberts to a bedroom in his flat where she was to spend the night, before going to his own room.

Roberts was in ‘a high emotional state,’ and wanted to call her father, the court heard. But her phone was not working, so Mr Benitez gave her his phone.

As she called her father, asking him to come and pick her up, she armed herself with a large red-handled kitchen knife and began to kick and slash at Mr Benitez’s door.

One of his flatmates called security, and when officers arrived they saw blood on the walls from a cut to Roberts’ thumb, and broken glass on the floor.

Prosecutor Cathlyn Orchard said: ‘Plainly it was the case that he had nowhere to go, and when they came in he was backed up on his bed.’

The court heard Roberts pointed the knife at Mr Benitez before telling him: ‘I’d rather kill the person who’s f****ed me up the most – you.

Ms Roberts' attack on Mr Benitez was recorded on a bodycam worn by a Warwick University security guard who pleaded with the student to stop

Ms Roberts’ attack on Mr Benitez was recorded on a bodycam worn by a Warwick University security guard who pleaded with the student to stop

‘I’m not emotional. I’m letting things out. You tried to possess me.’

She then called her father on the phone, and told him: ‘If you knew what was happening to me, you would come and get me right now, as a father.

‘You need to get me before I kill him, you need to get me right now.

‘Do you understand me? You come and get me right now. Get me right now, and get me out of this situation right now.’

The court heard a security guard was recorded on his bodycam pleading with Roberts to drop the knife. He told her: ‘You’ll make it a hell of a lot worse.’

Continuing to speak to her father, Roberts told him: ‘I’m not putting anything down until you come and get me. Come and get me right now. I will kill Ravi, OK?’

She then lunged at Mr Benitez slashing his face and to his hand as he tried to protect himself, telling him: ‘You liar, you liar. You lied to me, you liar.’

Calling out to her father, she screamed: ‘Get me now if you don’t want your daughter to be in jail. Come here right now.’

Deputy Judge Phillip Wassal remarked: ‘Having seen that (bodycam footage), it emphasises the importance of us seeing it. Her reactions are so bizarre and so out of control.’

He adjourned the case and bailed Roberts for a future date for a trial of issue. 

 

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