A FORMER taxi driver at the centre of a fatal love triangle has told a jury how he blames himself every day for the death of his partner.

Katrina Jones was knifed to death by her ex-husband, Brian, at their former marital home months after he learnt of her affair with Shaun Kelly.

Mrs Jones, 34, started divorce proceedings after she began a relationship with labourer and crane driver Mr Kelly – a friend from her past.

Her 63-year-old husband was prepared to forgive her infidelity and work on patching up their ten-year marriage until the middle of last year.

A month after the divorce was legally confirmed, Mrs Jones, from Marske, east Cleveland, was preparing a party to celebrate when she was stabbed 12 times.

Mr Jones denies murder and says he was provoked and was suffering from an abnormality of mind at the time of the killing.

The former doorman often sobbed and held his head in his hands when the case was being outlined to the jury by Franz Muller QC, prosecuting.

He sat bent double in the dock with his head nearly on his lap – never looking up – while Mr Kelly gave evidence at Teesside Crown Court.

Mr Kelly said he had known Mrs Jones before her marriage, but that they had lost touch until a chance meeting when he was driving a taxi in 2005.

They exchanged mobile phone numbers and sent each other messages from time to time, Mr Kelly told the jury at Teesside Crown Court.

The 45-year-old said they bumped into each other again two years ago, when Mrs Jones told him that she was living with a possessive “freak”.

He told the jury that they started an affair in late 2008, which was discovered in February last year when Mr Jones found a Valentine’s card.

Mr Kelly said Mrs Jones told him that she had been warned by her estranged husband: “I would rather kill you than let any other man have you.”

He told the jury: “I think about it every single day of my life; that if Katrina was not with me, she would still be alive today.”

Mr Kelly described Mrs Jones as his best friend when they had known each other more than a decade ago, and regretted losing touch with her.

He told the jury that she became frustrated and angry about her former husband’s treatment of her, and said she was happy when she was with Mr Kelly.

He said: “When she was with me, she was probably the most happy-go-lucky person I have known in my life. We were always happy when we were together.”

Under cross-examination from Jamie Hill QC, Mr Kelly, from Redcar, east Cleveland, said: “If she had not met me, she would be alive today.”

The jury heard yesterday that Mr Jones had angry confrontations with his neighbours after he moved to a council flat following his separation.

Charles Wilkinson, 53, a fellow tenant in Thrushwood Close, Marske, said he was frightened by Mr Jones’ aggressive attitude.

The court was told that although Mr Jones had moved to the flat, he spent much of his time at the home of a former neighbour in nearby Church Close.

The jury heard he had been drinking beer and whisky before the stabbing, on November 27, and that his mood became darker as he saw the party plans next door.

The trial continues.