Detective Adrian Goldsmith tells murder trial wife 'went berserk'

A detective accused of murdering his wife has told his trial she once held a knife to his throat and "went berserk" on another occasion.

Jill Goldsmith, 49, was found with multiple head wounds at their house in Northampton in March.

Adrian Goldsmith, 49, who denies murder, said he had hit her with a variety of objects in self-defence, because she had been attacking him.

He said she had attacked him on other occasions during arguments.

Mr Goldsmith, also known as Otis, had lived with his wife next to Northamptonshire Police's HQ in Wootton Hall Park since November 2012.

Appearing in the witness box at Stafford Crown Court, he told the jury their relationship was "harmonious, difficult, challenging".

Mr Goldsmith told the jury he joined the police in 1986 and was working in the Dangerous Persons Management Unit, dealing with public protection and registered sex offenders.

He had been investigated by the force over data mismanagement allegations and said time off work with stress had put a strain on his marriage.

He described Mrs Goldsmith as having smoked cannabis during a week's holiday and when he was "short" with her on their return home she "jumped on the bed and started punching me... she was going mental, all the rage was coming out".

"I didn't like conflict. I tried various methods," he said.

"I wasn't ever aggressive - I was very compliant."

The accused said he had called her parents to tell them about problems in their relationship and had been a "drama queen" and shouted at them.

When his wife returned home he said "she went absolutely furious at me and she took a knife out of the drawer and said if you ever ever hurt my parents again you'll get this", before holding the knife to his throat.

The trial continues.