A man accused of launching a frenzied knife attack on his ex-wife, in which she suffered a deep wound to her neck, told a court he was not the attacker.
Debbie Walerysiak and another witness, who walked in on the attack, told the court they recognised Paul Walerysiak, 52, as the man who attacked Mrs Walerysiak in her kitchen in Low Croft, Woodplumpton.
Mrs Walerysiak was left with wounds to her neck, arms and hands, which she put out to defend herself from the attacker, who came into her home through the kitchen door as she sat at the table.
But giving evidence at Preston Crown Court, Paul Walerysiak, of St George’s Road, Deepdale, insisted he was not at the bungalow at the time of the attack and said the pair were mistaken when they said he was responsible for Debbie’s injuries.
He said: “I was not at the property on the alleged date.”
The court heard Mr and Mrs Walerysiak had been separated for 11 years prior to the incident on September 18.
Mr Walerysiak would visit the bungalow to collect a family member every fortnight but the former couple had very little face-to-face contact since their separation.
Both Mrs Walerysiak and the witness, who has known Walerysiak all his life, described a brown waist length jacket they saw the defendant wearing on many occasions prior to the attack, which they said was like the jacket the attacker wore.
But Paul Walerysiak denied owning such a jacket, telling the court: “That is certainly not a clear description of any of my jackets.”
Walerysiak told the court on the evening his ex-wife was attacked he was visited by a friend at his home in Preston.
After his friend left, at around 8.10pm, the defendant said he finished his drink and cigarette and set off on foot to walk to his friend’s house.
Paul Walerysiak’s BMW was recorded driving down Garstang Road, towards Woodplumpton at 8.17pm on the evening of the attack.
However when he returned from his friend’s house at 10.21pm Walerysiak contacted the police to report the vehicle had been stolen during the evening.
He agreed a set of car keys, found at the back door of the house, following the attack, were very similar to his own but could not confirm they were his keys.
Paul Brookwell, prosecuting, suggested a financial disagreement between the former couple had tipped Walerysiak over the edge.
By the defendant insisted: “None of those things have tipped me over the edge at all.” He denied attempted murder and wounding.
(Proceeding)