Emma-Jayne Magson (pictured) was today convicted of murdering her boyfriend

A 'cold, brutal and manipulative' woman was today convicted of murdering her boyfriend after stabbing him in the heart with a steak knife.

Emma-Jayne Magson, 23, is facing a life sentence after plunging the weapon into the chest of 26-year-old James Knight before 'sacrificing' him by delaying medical help.

She then placed the knife in a bin belonging to the victim's brother, Leicester Crown Court heard.

The couple - who were in a 'volatile' relationship - had been involved in a drunken row in the run-up to the fatal attack at Magson's house in Leicester on March 27 this year.

The court was played a 999 call Magson made to emergency services after she struck the fatal blow, saying Mr Knight - a father-of-two - had collapsed and failing to mention he had been stabbed.

When told an ambulance might be delayed, Magson calmly replied: 'No, that's fine, don't worry about it.'

Magson later said she had acted in self-defence after alleging that Mr Knight grabbed her around the throat - but the jury of six men and six women took seven hours to convict her of murder.

James Knight, 26, (left) was stabbed in the chest by his girlfriend Magson (right) in March

Police attended the scene in Leicester where Knight was stabbed in the heart by his girlfriend

Mr Knight was found lying injured after the attack in the early hours of Easter Sunday, with two nearby residents and the victim's brother coming to his aid.

The court heard Magson then said Mr Knight was drunk and had been beaten up by bouncers while out drinking in the city centre.

Kevin Knight, who lived a few doors away from Magson, helped his brother's killer carry the body back into her front room - without realising the fatal stab injury Mr Knight had suffered which had punctured his heart.

Kevin Knight was woken by Magson 40 minutes later banging frantically on the door screaming 'it's James, it's James, he's dead, he's dead', the jury heard.

During his closing speech, prosecutor Michael Evans QC said: '(On that night) she was in drink, she was cold, she was brutal, she was manipulative, she was calculating, she was volatile, she was determined and she was vicious.

'She was thinking about how she could escape the consequences of what she had done.'

Referring to the fact that the victim is unable to give his account of events, Mr Evans said: 'She was determined that he would not have a voice.

'All her efforts after she stabbed him were directed at getting him away from others and into the house.

'This is someone who deceived people into not saving his life.'

Magson, 23, (left) is facing a life sentence after a jury took seven hours to convict her of murder. She stabbed her boyfriend James (right) in the heart in Leicester earlier this year

Magson will be sentenced on Monday after being remanded in custody by Judge Nicholas Dean QC.

Speaking after the guilty verdict, Detective Inspector Shaun Orton, who led the investigation, said: 'Right from the start, Magson lied about this incident.

'Knowing what she had done, she insisted to those around her, including the victim's brother, that he was just under the influence of drugs and alcohol and asked for assistance in moving him into the apparent safety of her address.

'It was some time later that she called an ambulance, and even then she failed to disclose to them that he had sustained a stab wound.

'At one point she even told the call handler "not to worry" about there being a delay in getting an ambulance to him, despite knowing she had stabbed him and he was dying in front of her.'

After the case, Leicestershire Police released a statement from the family of Mr Knight, paying tribute to the 'happy, bouncy' father.

They said: 'James Knight was 26 years old, a father of two girls, a son, a brother, uncle, and a friend to many.

EMMA-JAYNE MAGSON'S 999 CALL: Operator: Can you tell me exactly what's happened? Magson: Umm I don't know, my boyfriend's here, he's making weird noises, I don't know what's going on. Operator: What were you doing up until he's starting what he's doing now? Magson: No, he's been fine, he's come home, he's come home to me, I've been out all night and then he's come home to me and then just collapsed on my floor... he was fine up until about five minutes and then he's just started making noises and now they've stopped and now I'm on the phone to you. Operator: Is he awake and breathing? Magson: Yes, he's breathing. He's breathing fine, he's started to sleep but I don't know why he's making them noises, I don't know if he's done it for my sake. Operator: Do you want an ambulance to come and take him to hospital? Magson: I don't know if there's something up or he's just playing me about. Operator: The only thing I can do is just send an ambulance to come and take him to hospital if that's what he wants? Magson: Yes do that please. Operator: Are his eyes open at all? Is he awake? Is he conscious or... ? Magson: Well, to be honest, it looks like he's sleeping but it ain't how he normally sleeps because I live with him, so it ain't how he normally sleeps if that makes sense... it looks like he's had a fight with someone... I think he's ignoring me on purpose if I'm honest with you. Operator: Alright, well we'll get someone sent over to him, it's been arranged. I mean, it might take a while... I do apologise, it's Bank Holiday weekend and we're getting absolutely... Magson: No, that's fine, don't worry about it. Operator: Try and put him on his side, all right? If he does wake up just reassure him. Do you know what, I wouldn't let him have anything to eat or drink, not even water. Magson: Do you know what? I just think he's too smashed, that's what I think. I just need to be on the safe side, like he's my boyfriend. Advertisement

'James was a very happy, bouncy young man who made everyone's day brighter with a smile that was infectious, no-one will ever be able to forget it.

'We, as a family will never be able to forget the night we received the heart breaking news that James had died, the heart ache and pain James suffered will never go away, neither will the pain for those of us left behind.

'Although Emma has finally been brought to justice we will never truly be able to come to terms with the fact he has gone.

'As a family we would like to thank everybody at Leicestershire Police for all their help and guidance throughout this process.

'Our thanks must also go to the neighbours, the East Midlands Ambulance Service, and the doctors both at the scene and Leicester Royal Infirmary who all tried so hard to save James' life.