GRANDMOTHER Mary Dempsey was stabbed more than 40 times in what could have been a sexually motivated attack, a court has heard.

Mrs Dempsey known as Maisie was killed at her bungalow in Masefield Court, Harpenden, on February 5 this year.

Her homosexual neighbour Shaun Wright, 37, appeared in St Albans Crown Court this week accused of her murder.

Wright, a fishing license bailiff, was living with his long-term boyfriend in nearby Masefield Road and knew Mrs Dempsey, 71, through the Royal British Legion Club, where they both played dominos.

Prosecuting, William Harbage told the jury: "Mrs Dempsey was stabbed more than 40 times. Her body was mutilated.

"The prosecution will attempt to prove that there is no doubt that she was murdered by Shaun William Wright.

Mr Harbage added: "(The attack) is consistent with the stabbing being carried out in a systematic way, with an element of control. The opposite of frenzied.

"The pattern and location of the wounds is consistent with a sexual attack."

The jury heard that Mrs Dempsey had been drinking brandy with Wright on the day of her death.

At about 7pm he knocked on the next door neighbour's door in what was described as an "agitated and clearly intoxicated state".

The door was answered by the neighbour's daughter Christine Harpin, who was told by Wright that he was worried about his friend Mrs Dempsey.

Both Mrs Harpin and her husband David testified that Wright had blood on his hands which he dismissed as his own from a cut on his finger.

While on their doorstep Wright made a call to the emergency services which was played to the court. In it he can clearly be heard saying "I have blood on my hands from a cut".

Mr Harpin and Wright went back round to Mrs Dempsey's bungalow and, while Wright broke in through a window to her bedroom, Mr Harpin went to the front door.

He said he was stunned to find the door unlocked and slightly ajar. He entered Mrs Dempsey's bedroom and found her body on the bed, half covered with a duvet and with a pool of blood next to the head. Wright was stood in a corner of the room.

After asking Wright to leave Mr Harpin, a trained first aider, checked for signs of life but found none. Without disturbing the scene he went back to his mother-in-law's house and called the police who arrived within minutes.

Officers immediately arrested Wright on suspicion of murder. Later tests revealed the blood on his hands was Mrs Dempsey's and that he was not injured.

On Wednesday Wright's partner of 18 years Martin Cursue appeared in court to give evidence. He said Wright had been depressed and receiving occasional psychiatric treatment since his landscape gardening business failed in the late 90s.

Asked about Wright's relationship with Mrs Dempsey, accountant Mr Cursue said: "They would get together as drinking buddies. He would speak to her almost daily.

"We took her out for her 70th birthday and they got on extremely well. I would say Maisie was probably Shaun's best friend in Harpenden with the exception of myself."

Wright has pleaded not guilty to murder.

The trial continues.