THE most graphic account yet of how young mum-to-be Claire Wilson met her tragic death in Grimsby town centre were revealed on the first day of the murder trial of Alan McMullan.

The family of Claire, 21, were at Hull Crown Court yesterday to see McMullan, 54, in the dock, who is claiming he stabbed her in a random street attack because he "was unable to resist" voices in his head telling him to kill.

Miss Wilson suffered "massive acute blood loss" when McMullan plunged a knife 8.5cm deep into her back and "calmly" walked away, the court was told.

Jurors also heard how he had handed himself into police three times before, claiming voices were telling him to harm people.

McMullan, formerly of Sherwood Road, Grimsby, denies murder. Although there is no dispute that he stabbed Miss Wilson, the trial will decide if his actions were the result of "diminished responsibility".

Lynn Tayton QC, prosecuting, said Miss Wilson was walking to work at Pizza Hut, Victoria Street North, Grimsby, from her home in Julian Street, when she died on June 7 last year.

She was due to work from 4pm to 9pm, but had told her boyfriend Adam Kennard, that she was "very tired", having been woken up by her unborn baby kicking.

She told Mr Kennard "she didn't feel like going to work", especially as it was raining.

She left for work at 3.35pm walking along Sixhills Street and onto Pasture Street.

It was here, the court heard, that a passer-by saw McMullan walking behind her.

Stephen Page, his mother Jean and two children, were driving away from Pizza Hut at 3.45pm, reached the junction of Pasture Street and Victoria Street and saw a man – later identified as McMullan – wearing a black woollen hat "pulled down to his eyebrows".

Mr Page saw him "lunge at Miss Wilson with an overarm motion" with force and a blank expression, and also noticed he had a knife in his hand.

The court heard Miss Wilson took a couple of steps before falling to the floor screaming, with the knife still in her back.

McMullan had "calmly" walked off while Mr Page went to the Hope and Anchor pub to get help in catching the defendant.

McMullan had walked to the traffic lights on Ellis Way when Mr Page banged on the window of a police van, which was waiting at traffic lights.

Two police officers grabbed McMullan, who told them: "I've got voices in my head telling me to do it. I've left my knife in her".

Paramedics quickly arrived on the scene and discovered only the handle of the knife in Miss Wilson's back was visible.

She was taken to Grimsby's Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital, where she and her unborn daughter – which she had named April – were pronounced dead.

The Home Office pathologist revealed Miss Wilson had died from a single stab wound which had penetrated 8.5cm deep.

McMullan underwent an immediate mental health assessment.

He said he had been hearing voices in his head for "about a year" and had received treatment. He said a male voice in his head had told him to kill someone.

Miss Tayton told jurors McMullan had said after resisting for a year he was no longer able to resist the voices in his head.

Jurors heard how on June 2, 2008, McMullan had told the enquiry desk at Grimsby Police Station that he didn't feel very well and wanted to kill someone.

He admitted having a knife and was arrested under the Mental Health Act and was taken to the Psychiatric Unit at Grimsby's hospital.

During his stay there, staff said they observed no evidence of him responding to voices in his head and had no cause for concern.

On June 19, 2008, McMullan again handed himself into the police with a knife. He was in hospital for 21 days and was given "appropriate medication" .

McMullan handed himself into police a third time in July that year.

Miss Wilson's family were present in court for the trial, which is expected to last until Friday. Today, jurors are expected to hear psychiatric reports.

William Harbage QC, is defending McMullan before Judge Michael Mettyear.

The trial continues.