A 26-year-old woman admitted to her mother that she knifed one elderly woman through the heart and slashed another's throat, a court heard.

Jane Cawley, 26, today appeared before Bradford magistrates, charged with the murder of 67-year-old Mary Robertson and the attempted murder of Nora Stannard, aged 71, early on Boxing Day.

Magistrates agreed to lift reporting restrictions in an effort by defence solicitor Stephen Murdoch to appeal for information about the incident.

The court heard that Cawley met Mrs Robertson and Mrs Stannard at the New Inn, Conduit Street, Manningham, on Christmas Day.

Cawley, of Bowling Old Lane, West Bowling, Bradford, started talking to the two women and then went back to Mrs Stannard's house in Church Street.

Prosecution solicitor Halima Aziz said: "Miss Cawley wanted to stay but they refused.

"She went into the kitchen, brought out some knives and stabbed Mrs Robertson in the chest and Mrs Stannard in the chest and back."

Mrs Robertson, of Manningham, died four hours later. Mrs Stannard was treated at Bradford Royal Infirmary and is now recovering with relatives.

Miss Aziz told the court: "Miss Cawley went to her mother's home and said, 'I've just stabbed someone in the heart and cut someone's throat. They are both dead and the police are going to get me'."

Defence solicitor Stephen Murdoch said: "Although there has been a number of interviews and a thorough investigation by the police, parts of the night in question are still a blank as far as my client is concerned.

"There will be people in the community who have not been seen by the police who saw my client on Christmas Day night and Boxing Day. I would ask these people to get in touch with me so that we know exactly what went on."

No application for bail was made and Cawley was remanded in custody until January 7.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Mr Murdoch on Bradford 734461.

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