A successful businessman’s partner wept as she told a jury how a fun-filled family Christmas Day party turned to tragedy as one of her guests died after having his throat cut.

Adam Jenkins, who owns a construction company, is accused of killing Simon Birch by cutting his neck with a kitchen knife in the late on December 25 last year.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Jenkins, 35, who runs AJay Brickworks, and his partner, Natalie Shaw, invited family and friends to their home on Sunderland Road Newbottle, for the festivities.

Read more: Man dies in suspected Christmas Day assault in Newbottle

Jenkins' mum, step-dad, father and brother were there along with his sister Emma Jenkins, with her partner, 39-year-old Simon Birch.

During the hearing on Wednesday jurors heard a video statement given to police by Miss Shaw.

She said they started the day with the men drinking in a separate bar while the woman made Christmas lunch in the house.

The jury heard Mr Birch had drank nine pints but the group had an enjoyable meal followed by a game of Play Your Cards Right.

She said guests started laughing and dancing but she could see some "tension" between Mr Birch and Emma Jenkins.

The court heard Adam Jenkins went to bed but issues between the couple continued.

Miss Shaw said: "Every so often Emma would scream out 'don't touch me like that, don't touch me'.”

Miss Shaw told the jury there was a history of domestic violence between Mr Birch and Emma.

The court heard they went to bed in separate rooms in the main house but everyone woke up when trouble flared again.

Miss Shaw said Adam Jenkins agreed to ‘sort it out in the morning’, but had told Mr Birch: “You are not doing this in my house."

Miss Shaw said a scuffle broke out between the two men and she tried to get in the middle before Emma became involved.

She said: "Birchy was over her and he was just punching into her, like a punch bag.

“The noise was horrible. I got hold of his neck and pulled him back, saying 'get off her'."

Read more: Man charged with Christmas murder of Simon Birch in Newbottle

Miss Shaw said Jenkins had gone into the kitchen so she closed the door, which could not be opened from inside, to keep him in there and called 999.

She added: “Me and Emma managed to push Birchy out of the front door and lock the door.

“I went into the kitchen and Adam had gone.

"I just went running outside and I just seen the two of them, as if they were shouting at each other.

“I don't know what they were saying. As I got closer I saw Birchy with his hand on his neck and there was blood coming out.

“I quickly got my hand on him. I kept looking into Birchy's eyes, saying 'please stay with me, stay with me'.

“The colour was just draining from his face. He fell to the ground.”

Miss Shaw said she saw Jenkins on the phone to the ambulance and they took turns to do CPR on Mr Birch until help arrived.

Jenkins denies murder and the trial continues.

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