A woman accused of attempting to murder her elderly neighbour said she heard the pensioner cry out - "Sharon please come and help me, I can't take it any more".

Leeds Crown Court heard yesterday that Sharon Sadik, 39, made two small wounds to the body of 78-year-old Marjorie Binner but only after the pensioner had plunged a knife into herself several times.

Giving evidence Sadik said she went to Miss Binner's home in Barmby Road, Undercliffe, after she heard her cry out and thought Miss Binner meant she wanted to end her life.

Sadik thought she would call Miss Binner's bluff and took a bin liner and a knife to her home.

The mother-of-three laid the knife and bag on Miss Binner's bed and said: "If you want to end it, there's the knife, bin liner or there are tablets on the trolley, it's up to you."

Sadik denies attempted murder and also denies alternative charges of wounding Miss Binner with intent to cause her grievous bodily harm or aiding and abetting her attempted suicide.

Sadik told the court said she cut two holes in the bin liner to prevent Miss Binner from asphyxiating. But she was shocked when Miss Binner picked up the knife.

She said she walked to the door to leave the house, but saw the arms of Miss Binner - whom she often referred to as Mum - move up and down and heard her moan.

She rushed back to Miss Binner's bedside and said: "You haven't have you, mum?"

She tried to take the knife from Miss Binner but she placed her hands on top of Sadik's and plunged the knife in further.

The trial continues.

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