A WOMAN accused of the manslaughter of an 84-year-old man has admitted to having a ‘craving for alcohol’ stemming from past abusive relationships.

Izabela Dauti, of Bell Road, Andover, told a psychiatrist that she often drinks two to three cans of beer a day, but more if she does not have to work, Winchester Crown Court heard.

Ms Dauti denies the manslaughter of Malcolm Cox by failing to call for medical assistance in November 2016.

Today (Thursday) jurors at Winchester Crown Court were told that on November 15, the day Mr Cox was discovered by paramedics, Ms Dauti had an alcohol level of 122 millilitres in 100 millilitres of blood – the legal drink drive limit is 80.

But Kerry Maylin, prosecuting, said the level could have been higher as Mr Cox, a member of the Andover Royal British Legion, lay bleeding on the accused's hallway floor.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Alexandra Getz told the court that Ms Dauti’s level of alcohol consumption would have affected her judgement, memory and coordination.

She said: “It is a high probability that Ms Dauti’s judgement has significantly impaired her ability to generally judge the situation.”

The court heard that the 40-year-old’s dependency for alcohol arose after three relationships involving domestic abuse.

Dr Getz interviewed Ms Dauti to determine her mental state and said that the defendant “often thought about her past abuse in previous relationships”.

She added that Ms Dauti told her she would have tremors and shake if she did not consume alcohol.              

Dr Getz said that Ms Dauti had also said she has “long-standing issues with sleep” and is not able to sleep without the use of alcohol.

But Dr Getz said that she did not deem that the former bingo hall worker met the criteria for depressive disorder or suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.

And prosecutor Mrs Maylin argued that Dr Getz’s report was mostly based on Ms Dauti’s account and not medical evidence.

The court also heard evidence from Mr Cox’s neighbour Justin Stubbs who said he had seen the pensioner leave his flat in Bell Road at 12.10am on November 14, the night it is claimed Mr Cox was in the accused’s flat after hitting his head on a plant pot.

“I was washing my hands and drying them when I heard his [Mr Cox] car start, I knew it was his car as it had an engine problem,” Mr Stubbs said.

“That is when I opened the front door and saw him pulling away. He had his hat on…and had his usually cream coat on.

Mrs Maylin questioned whether Mr Stubbs was sure he it was Mr Cox driving the car and he replied: “He wouldn’t allow anyone to drive his car.

“He was strict that you would have to be insured to drive it and he wouldn’t let anyone.”

Mr Stubbs said he was sure it was Mr Cox driving the car, but he had not seen him return to his flat.

But Mrs Maylin said she thought Mr Stubbs was mistaken and he in fact had misjudged which evening he saw the pensioner drive off.