A JURY will resume its deliberations tomorrow (Thursday October 9) in the trial of a man who stabbed his common-law wife to death.

Paul Smart, 49, denies the murder of chip shop owner Angela Smeaton, although he has admitted the lesser charge of manslaughter.

The jury at Teesside Crown Court spent Wednesday afternoon considering a verdict, but returned at 4.25pm without having made a decision.

The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, who had earlier summed up the case, said they had a “long day” and would now be sent home before resuming their deliberations in the morning.

Mr Smart, a welder and father-of-one, claims 50-year-old Ms Smeaton came at him with a knife and he acted in self-defence.

The victim died of “catastrophic” blood loss after suffering 15 wounds to her head, neck and arms during the incident at the couple’s home in Eddlestone Walk, Hartlepool, on April 15 this year.

The defendant said he never meant to harm Ms Smeaton, but his claims that she attacked him with the knife have been rubbished by prosecutor Tim Roberts.

Both Mr Smart and his partner had been at a funeral earlier the same day for Ms Smeaton’s brother, Martin, and then began drinking at the Hourglass pub, in Owton, Hartlepool, before returning home where they argued.

In a 1.09am call to the emergency services, reporting the attack, Mr Smart was heard to say: “Sorry love, you pushed me too much.”

The trial continues.