THE jury in a York murder trial was sent home early yesterday after a witness felt poorly and the case had to be adjourned for the afternoon.

Kerry Munton was being cross-examined at Leeds Crown Court about an incident in Stuart Road, Acomb, in which Brian Cox is alleged to have murdered father-of-five Mark Webb by slashing his throat with a Stanley knife.

Ms Munton told the court last week that she witnessed the attack and then saw Mr Webb staggering off, bleeding.

The case was halted before lunch yesterday, while she was given a cold remedy and it then resumed briefly, but after lunch the jury was told she felt too unwell to continue. She was said to have seen a doctor over the weekend and been taking medication.

Cox, 29, said to be of Bede Avenue, Clifton, denies murder, while Susan Webb, 30, of Middleton Road, Acomb, who is the wife of the dead man, and Dawn Coates, 49, of Chapel Terrace, Acomb, both deny perverting the course of justice.

The trial was due to resume this morning.