Patricia Hewitt, 42, has been detained indefinitely in hospital after admitting manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility for the death of Angela Lloyd. Teesside Crown Court heard that Hewitt "butchered" the 56-year-old disabled woman in her Newton Aycliffe home in August.
The court heard that Hewitt, from Stanley, County Durham, used a knife and scissors to slash and stab Ms Lloyd dozens of times after forcing her way into the victim's home. Ms Lloyd's brothers stated their sister was "killed in the most horrible, violent and terrifying way" and was unable to defend herself due to her disabilities.
Hours before the killing, Hewitt had been given a suspended sentence by magistrates for an unrelated assault. Prosecutor Jolyon Perks KC told the court that Ms Lloyd made three calls to an emergency service, during which she was heard "screaming for help" and saying she was "being stabbed to death".
A Care Connect responder and one of Ms Lloyd's carers found her lying in a pool of blood on her kitchen floor. Police and paramedics were called, but Ms Lloyd was declared dead at the scene, with her death caused by catastrophic blood loss.
The court heard that Hewitt was in a state of psychosis at the time of the killing, likely suffering from schizophrenia. Judge Jonathan Carroll said he was "satisfied" she had a mental disorder and that "public safety" would be better protected by her indefinite detention and treatment at a secure psychiatric hospital.