A MAN has admitted killing a woman during an attack at her home.

Kathleen Griffin was stabbed repeatedly in her chest and died from her injuries.

Scott Hilling pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday, after a second count was added to the first count of murder.

He continues to deny her murder.

The Crown Prosecution Service decided to reject his manslaughter plea and informed Judge Charles Gratwicke QC they will still be seeking a murder conviction.

A jury of eight men and four women will hear prosecutor Peter Gair open the case today after being sworn in late yesterday.

Judge Gratwicke told the jury: "The charge this defendant stands charged with is murder.

"It is right he has pleaded guilty earlier to manslaughter.

"You should know that is the case."

At an earlier hearing, at Colchester Magistrates' Court, it was claimed Hilling, then 25, had been staying with Ms Griffin.

Hilling, who has no fixed address, had been given somewhere to live by the 57-year-old victim.

On December 17 he attacked her at the property in Old Road, Clacton.

On December 18 police were called to the shared ground floor flat after concerns were raised about her safety by a member of the public.

Hilling was arrested later the same day.

On December 19 Hilling was charged with murder.

On December 20 a post mortem examination revealed Ms Griffin died as a result of multiple stab wounds.

On December 21 Hilling appeared at court.

Magistrates were told the two had been friends but Hilling turned on her stabbing her in the chest.

The following day he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court and was remanded into custody.

Hilling, who was arrested in Clacton, accepts he killed the mother-of-one, but claims his responsibility was diminished.

Expert psychiatrists will appear for both the prosecution and the defence to give assessments on his state of mind.

Following her death son Dale McMullan paid tribute to his beloved mother.

He said: “Kathy will be dearly missed by all that knew and loved her.

“We have lost a loving mother, sister and grandma.

“There is now a space in our family that can never be filled."

The trial continues.