Woman accused of murdering lesbian lover has 'personality disorder', lawyer claims

Becky Reid left her partner looking 'like the elephant man', a court heard

Becky Reid denies any violence was used against Miss Vaux. (Getty)

A woman accused of a sustained and fatal campaign of domestic abuse against her lesbian lover has a personality disorder, her murder trial heard.

Becky Reid, 32, regularly battered mother-of-one Lyndsey Vaux, 30, leaving her "looking like the elephant man", with her head so badly swollen, Manchester Crown Court heard.

Reid, along with her mother Gillian, 57, both from Wigan, are jointly charged with the murder of Miss Vaux and grievous bodily harm on another woman, Samantha Newns, now 37, a previous partner of Becky Reid.

In the months before Miss Vaux died on May 22 last year, she appeared downtrodden, malnourished, hungry and thirsty and was constantly bruised and going downhill rapidly after suffering at the hands of both mother and daughter, it is alleged.

Often Miss Vaux would be sent out begging by Reid to feed her own alcohol and cannabis habits and if she did not bring back enough money, would be beaten, the jury heard.

Both defendants deny a single charge of murder and one count of grievous bodily harm.

Becky Reid denies any violence was used against Miss Vaux.

On Friday, the jury heard that by the age of five, Reid was said to be "out of control", with her mother and father "unable to cope".

No psychosis or severe mental illness was present, but in the opinion of consultant forensic psychologist Cleo Van Velsen, Reid has a borderline personality disorder which may offer a "partial defence" for her actions.

Simon Csoka QC, defending Becky Reid, asked the witness: "In your opinion, obviously assuming the facts are proven as found by the jury, would Miss Reid's borderline personality disorder substantially impair her ability to exercise self control?"

Dr Van Velsen replied: "I do feel quite strongly that the ultimate issue for the jury in my opinion, there's a significant link between her mental disorder and what might be found to have happened."

Bisexual Miss Vaux had lots of friends in Stockport before she began a relationship with Reid in 2009 and moved to the Wigan area.

When questioned the victim would make excuses for her injuries and refused to get the police involved, the court heard.

On the day she died, Gillian Reid called an ambulance to the house the three women shared in Sydney Street, Platt Bridge, Wigan, with Becky Reid telling medics her partner had "just collapsed".

Miss Vaux had lost eight stone in weight and a post-mortem examination revealed 90 external injuries as well as serious internal injuries, including rib fractures.

Experts concluded she died not from a single fatal injury but from the combined effects of multiple injuries.

After her death, neighbours and local shopkeepers came forward to say Miss Vaux was regularly seen being attacked, with on one occasion, Gillian Reid climbing off her mobility scooter to kick Miss Vaux in the ribs.

The trial was adjourned until Monday.