The attack on Ms Richards was "prolonged, deliberate and fatal"

Hayley Richards, 23, told officers she was "petrified" of Hugo Quintas, 24, after the violent attack on 5 June, 2004, Bristol Crown Court heard.

The waitress had told police she was scared he would return to her flat in Trowbridge seeking revenge.

Ms Richards was found dead in her flat with her throat slit six days later.

Mr Quintas, a Portuguese factory worker, left the country the next day.

Ear-to-ear wound

He has pleaded not guilty to murdering Hayley Richards, but has admitted her manslaughter on the grounds of provocation.

Ian Fenney, prosecuting, read out a statement Miss Richards had made to the police on 5 June - the day Quintas allegedly tried to strangle her.

The court heard she told officers that she had asked him to leave her flat after he pushed her against the stairs and attempted to punch her during an argument.

"He got a hold of my neck, preventing me from moving," the statement said.

"He was holding me right on my voicebox so I couldn't breathe or scream for 30 or 60 seconds. I was petrified."

She said he demanded �60 and warned, 'give me my money tomorrow or I will kill you'.

"Hugo knew I was pregnant and knew he was hurting me and my baby. I'm scared stiff of him."

Mr Quintas is accused of using a Stanley knife to inflict an eight-inch ear-to-ear wound on Miss Richards in what was described in court as a "prolonged, deliberate and fatal attack".