Lover thought he was going to die

Anthony Pate, 47, said he retaliated after coming under a frenzied knife attack from his girlfriend, 44-year-old Kim Baldry.

The couple had been rowing at Mrs Baldry's home in Gorringe Road, Eastbourne, on December 9 last year.

Jurors heard Pate became agitated after he arrived at Mrs Baldry's home to find a friend of his sharing a bottle of wine with her.

Pate accused father-of-two Mohammed Ali-Saber of having an affair with Mrs Baldry behind his back.

Mr Ali-Saber told Lewes Crown Court his friendship with Mrs Baldry was merely platonic and that Pate, who had drunk at least ten pints that day, was wrong to suggest an affair.

He said: "Before Pate arrived everyone was happy. But when he turned up someone said 'Oh, it's him'.

"He said to me, 'I thought you were my friend' and he then started cracking his fingers.

"I said, 'There is nothing going on between us' and that we were just friends.

"I was scared and just went."

When Mr Ali-Saber had left, a row broke out between Pate and Mrs Baldry after she told him their two-year relationship was over.

In a police interview, Pate, of Belle Vue Road, Eastbourne, said Mrs Baldry went berserk after both had initially been kissing and cuddling on the sofa.

Pate told detectives: "There was nothing sexual. All of a sudden Kim just went into a frenzied attack and started stabbing me. She just went crazy.

"I had had a few drinks so didn't feel any pain at first. Then all of a sudden I realised what was going on.

"I just threw her off the side of me and got hold of her hand which had the knife.

"I got the knife. I was in such shock and fear because I didn't know whether Kim had another knife.

"I just defended myself. I thought if I didn't do something I was going to die.

"It was all so quick and just so explosive."

Mrs Baldry had received 21 stab wounds and was declared dead at Eastbourne District General Hospital later that evening.

Pate denies murder.

The case continues.