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A WOMAN who attacked two strangers with a knife had killed her mother six years before, the Old Bailey heard today.

Nicola Edgington stabbed her mother in November 2005 and disappeared for three weeks.

She pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and was made the subject of a hospital order without limit of time.

But by October 2011, while being treated in the community, she attacked the two women, who were going to work in Bexleyheath, south east London.

Kerry Clark, 22, managed to fight Edgington off but Sally Hodkin, 58, died when her neck was cut with a large butcher's knife.

Just hours earlier, Edgington had gone to a hospital - but walked out before she could be admitted as a voluntary inpatient.

Edgington, 32, of Greenwich, south east London, denies murdering law firm accounts manager Mrs Hodkin and the attempted murder of Miss Clark, who is now 24.

Edgington spent three years as an inpatient in a psychiatric unit before being released under the supervision of a psychiatrist, nurse and social worker.

In 2011, her condition began to deteriorate after her brother made contact again.

Edgington had been diagnosed as schizophrenic when she was first sentenced but the prosecution no longer accepted this was the case.

Mr Heywood said she had a borderline personality disorder and was responsible for her actions.

He said the jury would have to consider a number of things.

"One factor is that she has been through it all before. She therefore knew what to expect - what might happen should she kill again."

Mr Heywood outlined the horror of the street attacks.

He said: "She approached and deliberately and viciously attacked each of them without warning, without any provocation.

"She used the weapon forcefully and purposefully in each attack. She was controlled and she was rational."

Mr Heywood added: "This case concerns two murderous attacks in the street with large knives. In each case the intention was to kill.

"The first victim survived because she fought her attacker off and took the knife away.

"The second person attacked, although she tried to defend herself with her bare hands, was unable to achieve that.

"She was overwhelmed. She died almost immediately from the catastrophic injuries inflicted on her."

Mr Heywood said Edgington bought a large knife and attacked Miss Clark, who was forced to the ground and fought for her life as Edgington tried to stab her.

Edgington fled after Miss Clark fought her off but she picked up an even larger knife from a butcher's shop, the court heard.

Mr Heywood said: "With it, she went on until she found another lady. She set upon her with the bigger knife, attacking her with such sustained force that her neck was cut completely open."

Edgington claims her responsibility was diminished because of her mental state.