A WOMAN will appear in court today today after denying defrauding her sister of £100,000 and then attempting to murder her by setting fire to a house in Hampshire.

Cathy Bartlett appeared in Winchester Crown Court yesterday to stand trial for the attempted killing of Rachael Bartlett at a home in the New Forest in April this year.

A jury, sworn in to hear the case at Winchester Crown Court, heard how Bartlett, 30, is also accused of defrauding her sister of more than £100,000. She denies all charges.

As well as standing accused of attempting to kill her sister at the property in New Inn Lane on April 7, Bartlett also now faces a secondary charge of arson with intent to endanger life.

Bartlett, who has been on remand since her arrest, also faces 10 counts of fraud spanning from 2013 to 2015.

They include allegedly paying a £4,500 Shop Direct bill, spending £68,790 through cash withdrawals and card transactions and paying £1,314 for Grey Goose Vodka.

Other offences include allegedly spending £2,000 on accomodation at Southampton’s Grand Harbour Hotel, paying £20,00 on football hospitality at Southampton Football Club, paying more than £2,000 for Red Funnel tickets and £2,370 on England Rugby tickets.

The remaining counts involve allegedly filling in and signing cheques totalling £10,400, paying a Blackfield garage car bill of more than 3600 and purchasing Arsenal tickets costing £2,040.

A panel of 14 jurors were sworn in  – 12 of whom will hear the case which is expected to last four weeks.

The case will be opened today by prosecutor Charlie Gabb QC.

Proceeding.