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Pub landlady who stabbed teen she suspected of having affair with husband found guilty of assault
- Luisa Santos, 47, said she grabbed a fish knife to ‘scare’ teenage Hannah Pritchett
- Santos, from Princethorpe, Warwickshire, had deliberately admitted to being injured
- She has been convicted of attempted murder and will be convicted today
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A cafe landlady who stabbed her waitress after falsely suspecting the teen of having an affair with her husband has been convicted of attempted murder.
Luisa Santos, 47, told her husband, Chef Pedro, that Hannah Pritchett laughed at her and ordered him to choose between the 18-year-old and his family.
The mother of three, who claimed he fluttered out Miss Pritchett’s name while they were making love, said she grabbed a fish knife to “scare” her.
Santos, from Princethorpe, Warwickshire, had deliberately admitted that he had been injured. She is being convicted today.
Luisa Santos, 47, told her chef Pedro that Hannah Pritchett (pictured) laughed at her and ordered him to choose between the 18-year-old and his family
But Mr Santos, who owned the lease from The Three Horseshoes, denied mentioning Ms. Pritchett’s name, saying there had been an argument in the bedroom over the restaurant’s service arrangements.
Prosecutor Peter Grieves-Smith said Santos had formed a “misleading belief” about the nature of the couple’s relationship. He told jurors that the defendant and her victim had previously had an affable relationship in which Ms. Pritchett discussed her boyfriend, college studies, and manicures with Santos.
Warwick Crown Court judges deliberated for five hours and 16 minutes before convicting Portugal’s Santos by an 11-1 majority.
The May attack took place within minutes of Miss Pritchett’s arrival for lunch at the inn, and was caught on CCTV.
Santos, from Princethorpe, Warwickshire, had deliberately admitted that he had been injured. She is being convicted today
Footage showed Santos approaching Miss Pritchard as she sat on a stool polishing cutlery, then twice thrusting the knife into her left side from behind. The teenager suffered stab wounds eight centimeters and 17 centimeters deep and was in hospital for three days.
Santos told jurors that she was “tormented” by the victim who reportedly “looked at me in a provocative way, like she knew what she was doing — like she was challenging me.”
She claimed that Miss Pritchett “always seemed to make an effort and get close to my husband” when she entered the pub kitchen.
Miss Pritchett sobbed outside court after yesterday’s ruling but declined to comment on the case as she left with family members.