A WELDER who stabbed his common-law wife to death told a jury of their tempestuous relationship - but said he never wanted to harm her.

Paul Smart claimed he has little memory of the fatal attack at their home, hours after a funeral for victim Angela Smeaton's brother.

The 49-year-old recalled grabbing a carving knife from Ms Smeaton as she lunged towards him, and he thought he stabbed her three times.

A Teesside Crown Court jury has already heard the 50-year-old chip shop owner suffered 15 wounds to her head, neck and arms.

Giving evidence on the fifth day of his trial, Smart said: "It happened so quickly, a matter of seconds. I didn't get time to think . . ."

Asked by his barrister, Toby Hedworth, QC, if he wanted to harm her, the father-of-one replied: "Surely not, no."

Smart's account that Ms Smeaton went for him with the knife in the early hours of April 15 were rubbished by prosecutor Tim Roberts, QC, who accused him of "dredging up" past incidents to try to show a violent side to Ms Smeaton.

Smart said he suffered a deep wound to his arm when his partner threw an ashtray at a coffee table and shards of glass came off it.

He also told the jury of times when she bit his chin, threw a frying pan at him because an egg yolk broke, and hit him with a pool cue.

Mr Hedworth said: "You have obviously, over various times, had your ups and downs with Angela. Have you ever wanted to do her serious harm?"

Smart replied: "No, not at all."

He was asked: "What is it like without her?" Showing emotion for the first time in the witness box, he answered: "Absolutely devastated."

Under cross-examination by Mr Roberts, Smart reiterated he had limited recollection of the attack, and could not say what was in his mind.

Mr Roberts put it to the defendant that Ms Smeaton had never in their 29 years together posed a threat of serious violence to him.

Ms Smeaton died of "catastrophic" blood loss at the couple's home in Eddlestone Walk, Hartlepool, following a wake for her cancer victim brother Martin.

In a 1.09am call to the emergency services Smart was heard to say: "Sorry love, you pushed me too much."

He denies murder, but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of self-defence and provocation. The trial will continues.