A DOCTOR has rejected claims that wife killer Edward Richardson was suffering from a mental disorder when he stabbed her to death.

Psychiatrist Dr Bethan Davies told murder trial jurors that Richardson's reaction to the breakdown of his marriage was what would be expected.

The doctor was asked what the defendant's state of mind was leading up to him killing his 26-year-old wife Sarah in May last year.

Dr Davies said: "He described feeling low and having poor concentration and sleep disturbance. He was able to socialise with friends and entertain his children at a barbecue."

She said he didn't describe a lack of interest in life or other prominent symptoms of depression.

"Mr Richardson had just experienced a breakdown in his marriage, I would expect him to feel low. In my opinion, he didn't have an abnormality of mind at that time."

The jury at Stafford Crown Court has heard that Sarah was stabbed 13 times in the bedroom of her parents' house in Brown Lees, three weeks after the couple split up.

Richardson says the split was caused by his wife's need for cocaine-fuelled sex.

Another psychiatrist, Dr Stuart Vaggars has concluded that the father-of-two was showing "classic symptoms" of an adjustment disorder when he confronted his estranged wife with a carving knife.

Richardson, aged 41, of Mayfield Road, Biddulph, denies a charge of murder.

The trial continues.