Clare Nicholls admits her part in death of Andrew Gardner

Jan 15 2010 by Neil McKay, The Journal

A MOTHER of four co-accused of murdering her partner dramatically admitted her part in his death yesterday.

Clare Nicholls, 28, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Andrew Gardner, the father of her youngest child, but continues to deny murdering him.

Prosecutor Paul Sloan told Teesside Crown Court the lesser charge was unacceptable to the Crown.

Nicholls, along with her brother Simon Nicholls, 24, and her on-off lover Steven Martin, 44, are all charged with murdering Mr Gardner, 35, who was found with more than 100 injuries by paramedics on Friday, March 13 last year.

Mr Gardner, originally from Gateshead, died at the home he shared with Nicholls, her brother, Martin, and Nicholls’ four children in Arthur Street, Chilton, County Durham.

Nicholls, her brother and Mr Gardner had moved there from St Paul’s Road in Jarrow, South Tyneside, less than a year earlier. Martin moved in two weeks before Mr Gardner was found dead.

Clare Nicholls spent yesterday in the witness box giving evidence during the ninth day of the murder trial.

She described how she met Mr Gardner when he was involved in a relationship with her sister Christa, and how she had met Mr Martin when he was involved in a relationship with her mother, Janet Hall.

Mr Gardner and Nicholls lived together first in Howe Street, Hebburn, then in Jarrow before moving to Chilton.

Nicholls said she became “frustrated” with Mr Gardner when he would not contribute to household chores, but told the jury tearfully: “I still loved him.”