A 57-YEAR-old man accused of murdering his disabled wife said yesterday that she suffered multiple injuries in a drunken fall.

Kenneth Hood denies murdering his wife, Irene, and has also pleaded not guilty to two alternative manslaughter charges, one alleging that he caused her death by assault, and the other of causing her death by gross neglect.

Earlier in the Teesside Crown Court trial, Paul Worsley, prosecuting, said Mr Hood was criminally responsible for the death of his wife.

The court heard that Mrs Hood, who suffered from osteoporosis, diabetes and had had her left leg amputated above the knee, was taken to hospital on April 4 last year, where she was found to be suffering from multiple fractures and bedsores. She later developed pneumonia and died on May 14.

Mr Hood, of The Garth, Coulby Newham, near Middlesbrough, said yesterday that while living in Scotland, he and Mrs Hood had become close following the death of her husband.

The two moved to Middlesbrough and married in 1999. They had, he said, both been heavy drinkers who kept themselves to themselves.

At about 3.30am one Sunday in March last year, Mr Hood said his wife accused him of watering down her vodka.

"She was very drunk and lunged for a vodka bottle on the table'' said Mr Hood, who said that at that point, her wheelchair began to topple over, and as he jumped up to stop it, he caught his leg.

He said Mrs Hood, the chair and himself all crashed on to the floor.

The trial continues.