Melanie Elsbury celebrating her marriage in December last year

Christopher Elsbury, 29, of Bridgend, south Wales, is accused of battering 27-year-old mother-of-three Melanie, then using a towel to strangle her.

The court heard that a post-mortem examination had detected evidence of more than 50 injuries on her body.

Mr Elsbury, of Brackla, denies murder, and the trial continues.

Paul Lewis, QC, prosecuting, told the jury: "The couple were married at a registry office - but their marriage was short-lived because 28 days later Elsbury killed her."

He said Mr Elsbury allegedly launched an attack on his wife, causing her multiple injuries, after they returned home from a family party.

"Not content with assaulting her," he said, "he then a took a towel and used it to kill her by twisting around her neck until she died from asphyxiation."

The court heard how Mr Elsbury's mother, Cherie, called police after he phoned her to say what he had done.

The court was told how officers found him at his home clutching photographs of the couple together and her wedding ring.

He was arrested and told officers: "She got under my skin like only a wife can do".

Melanie Elsbury was found at their house in Bridgend

He told police that they had rowed during a night out at the High Tide Inn, Porthcawl.

Mr Lewis said: "Elsbury told police he argued with Melanie because she had become upset at him looking at women in short skirts.

"He repeated this several times in the course of the interview and identified that as being the catalyst for the fight he said led to her death."

Mr Lewis described how Mr Elsbury told police that once they arrived home they had a half-hearted attempt at sex.

But he said: "I'd had a few pints so I was not at my best. To be quite honest I couldn't really do it".

Then, Mr Lewis told the court, they argued over what Mr Elsbury said were "such stupid things".

He told police that Melanie's last words were to tell him she loved him.

Mr Lewis said: "Despite her protestations of love with her dying breath, it appears he continued to strangle the life from her."

The court was told by Mr Lewis that the defendant "does not and will not dispute that he killed his wife in the manner described.

"The defence will contend that Elsbury is not guilty of murder but of the lesser offence of manslaughter," he said.