Newcastle man accused of murdering his girlfriend says he found her dead in bed
A Newcastle man has denied assaulting his girlfriend on the night before he says he found her dead in bed next to him.James Campbell allegedly struck Colette Myers with what is thought to have been a baseball bat. It caused an artery in her neck and spine to tear, leading to bleeding on the brain.
Colette, 33, was found dead at the couple's home in Lemington, Newcastle, in April.Campbell initially said he had woke up and found her dead then later claimed she had tripped on some ladders in the flat before getting into bed. Giving evidence, Campbell, 33, said he had known Colette since he was 16 and had started going out with her when he was around 21/22. He said he loved her and continued to love her at the time of the alleged offence.He admitted they had argued "quite a lot" and said it was "about debts and daft things".
When asked if he had assaulted her in the past, he replied: "Aye, more near to when we were first together." He said he had punched her in the past earlier in their relationship - and admitted he pleaded guilty to battery on her on two occasions.
When questioned about why he punched her, he said: "Only when she was physically attacking me." Campbell said he never caused her serious injury and never kicked her.
He denies murdering Colette and is being tried by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court.
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Asked how he feels now about having assaulted her, he said: "It's not just now, I did feel bad then when I done things as well."His barrister, Mark McKone KC, asked him about the night she died and he said he had not assaulted or hit her in any way.
Mr McKone said: "Did you do anything to Colette on the 20th of April that could have caused that brain haemorrhage?" He replied: "Nothing at all."He said when she got home that night she tripped on some ladders on the stairs but then got into bed and he thought she was just drunk and tired. But the next morning, he said he touched her back and she was "ice cold".Campbell told the court: "I thought she was dead. I felt sick. Upset."It was at 7.54am on April 20 that a paramedic responded to an emergency call and attended the couple's flat on Denwick Avenue, Lemington. Colette was found lying on the bed on her back on top of the covers, fully clothed with her arms above her head and was clearly dead.Campbell denies murder and the trial continues.