A MOTHER-of-two was stabbed to death by her brother and discovered by her 15-year-old daughter, a court heard.

Sarah Melia was killed at her home in Catherine Street West, Horwich, in January 2008, Manchester Crown Court was told.

The prosecution allege Mark Kitchen, aged 38, of Richard Gwyn Close, Westhoughton attacker her. He denies murder.

A jury heard 34-year-old Ms Melia had been to the shops on the morning of January 14, last year, before returning home alone.

It was at around 10.30am she received a visit.

Richard Marks, QC, prosecuting, said: “The prosecution say that person was Mark Kitchen. The prosecution say that having been admitted into his sister’s house he launched into a frenzied attack on her, repeatedly stabbing her with a kitchen-type knife.”

Ms Melia’s body lay undiscovered for around five hours.

Mr Marks added: “Tragically the killing of Sarah Melia was discovered by her daughter upon her return home from school.”

The court heard the 15-year-old arrived home around 3.30pm and made a 999 call at 3.32pm.

The court also heard a brown screwed up envelope from the TV Licensing Company was found next to Ms Melia’s body. They had sent out 50 letters to people in Bolton on January 10, summonsing them to attend court on January 29.

Kitchen was sent one of these letters, the court heard.

The murder weapon was found on a roof in Mary Street East, and the prosecution say it was carried to the scene in the TV Licensing envelope.

The jury was told Kitchen had become estranged from his sister and mother because he thought they were interfering in his life.

Kitchen has a history of mental illness, and the court also heard he had a number of previous convictions.

Mr Marks added: “Although none of these convictions involved incidents in which serious violence was inflicted, all of them confirmed violent behaviour, and one incident involved possession of a blade or knife in a public place.”

The trial continues.