A 52-year-old Co Armagh man allegedly seen by his son "slicing" his girlfriend's throat with a 20cm-long kitchen knife has gone on trial.
Craigavon Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, heard that David Lyness later claimed that it had been his 51-year-old former fianceé Anita Downey who had attacked him in the living room of his Toberhewny Hall home in Lurgan, and that her death was "an accident".
However, prosecution QC Neil Connor told the jury that the accused intended to inflict "really serious harm".
Judge Geoffrey Miller QC and the jury also heard Ms Downey bled to death, after the long muscle of her neck was completely severed causing major injury being to the internal jugular vein.
Other blunt force injuries, consistent with blows, such as punches were also noted.
Earlier, Mr Connor claimed Lyness's son initially witnessed his dad sitting astride Ms Downey, beating her about the head and shouting at her. He then went to the kitchen and returned with a knife.
He retreated after his father threatened him, but returned on hearing Ms Downey "screaming for help".
Opening the living room door he saw "blood everywhere" and his father holding Ms Downey by her hair, while at the same time "sawing at the left side of her neck".
He fled and the house and in a 999 call, was taped saying: "My dad has just sliced his girlfriend's throat".
During police interviews Lyness claimed Ms Downey came at him "with a knife in her hand" which he grappled from her.
Lyness further claimed that as they were "scrambling about for the knife" he noticed a lot of blood, realising that "something drastic" had happened.
The trial continues.
