A CONVICTED murderer tried to stab his sister-in-law to death in Lye High Street after telling a man he was going to kill someone and go to jail for 10 years, a jury has been told.

Gheorghe Mihai, who had been drinking, chased Roxana Mihai while armed with a "large" kitchen knife after she refused to give him money, alleged Matthew Brook, prosecuting.

He said a "helpless" Mrs Mihai was stabbed five times as she lay on the ground and the savage attack only came to an end when her husband arrived at the scene and punched Mihai in the face.

She was rushed to hospital and treated for five wounds to her face, head, arm and back, Mr Brook told Wolverhampton Crown Court.

The six man- six woman jury were told that in 2006, Mihai had been sent to prison in his native Romania for seven years for murder.

Mr Brook said Mihai attacked a man with a piece of wood and that, he alleged, put into context the remark he made before stabbing his sister-in-law that he was going to kill someone.

Mihai, of Park Street, Lye, has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder. He has also denied a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Mr Brook said Mihai, who has also denied being in possession of an offensive weapon, intended to kill his sister-in-law.

He said she had been waiting at a bus stop with her husband and child when Mihai, who appeared to be drunk, arrived and asked for some money She refused and he got angry because she had "dared" to turn down his request and he then threatened to "cut her," said Mr Brook.

The court was told that a passing lorry driver saw the woman back away before the man pulled out a large kitchen knife.

She quickly ran away but he chased after her - still holding the knife - while the man Mihai had told he would kill someone also ran after him.

The woman then fell to the ground and Mihai was seen standing over her body bringing the knife down to stab her repeatedly.

Mr Brook said her husband also gave chase and when he saw his wife covered in blood on the ground, he punched Mihai in the face.

Mihai then ran to a nearby petrol station where staff told him to drop the knife - which he did - before police arrived and arrested him.

The trial in front of Judge Amjad Nawaz is continuing.