A WOMAN murdered her partner by hitting him on the head with a meat tenderiser during one of their regular drink-fuelled rows, a jury at Bradford Crown Court heard.

Baiba Andersone, 35, did nothing to help Dainius Dobrovolskis after striking the fatal blow but tried to clean up bloodstains at the home they shared in Stephenson Street, Great Horton, Bradford, it is alleged.

Mr Dobrovolskis, 41, was found by paramedics dead in the living room at the address shortly before 8pm on September 5 last year.

Andersone pleads not guilty to murdering him and denies an alternative charge of manslaughter. The jury was told that she is claiming she acted in self defence.

Prosecutor Simon Waley said yesterday the couple had been together for several years.

“It is clear that they had a stormy relationship and that this was exacerbated by regular joint use of alcohol. They had loud, regular and frequent arguments,” Mr Waley told the court.

But although both had previously suffered bruising, neither had sustained serious injury.

The jury heard there was “some talk of a background of jealousy” behind the arguments.

Mr Waley said Mr Dobrovolskis had begun to tell other people that he had had enough and intended to leave the country.

At 7.43pm on September 5, Vilanda Vaivade rang the emergency services to report that her friend’s partner was lying dead at the address.

Paramedics saw Andersone sitting on a wall outside the house with Miss Vaivade.

Mr Dobrovolskis was lying dead near the fireplace in the living room. He was wearing just his boxer shorts and his body was covered in blood. The sofa and carpet were heavily bloodstained.

Miss Vaivade told the police Andersone had rung her, saying: “I’m in trouble. I’m in s**t.”

Andersone then turned up at her home asking for help. She had been drinking and was holding a half empty bottle of vodka, the jury heard.

Andersone told her friend Dainius was covered in blood.

When she was arrested for murder at the scene, she replied: “What do you mean? He assaulted me. I was away for three days and came home and found him in this state. I haven’t touched him.”

Andersone showed the police injuries to her lip and nose and bruising to her back she said were caused by Mr Dobrovolskis.

Mr Waley said Mr Dobrovolskis died from “profound blood loss as a consequence of a head injury.”

He might have been capable of moving from room to room at the house for half an hour before he collapsed and died.

The jury heard that a zig-zag pattern on the single wound to the left side of his head was consistent with having been inflicted with a meat tenderiser found in the kitchen.

Attempts had been made to clean up blood in the kitchen and Andersone had gone upstairs to wash.

A forensic scientist said her blood-stained clothing suggested a “dynamic interaction” with Mr Dobrovolskis while he was injured and bleeding.

Andersone made a short prepared statement to the police, saying: “I have not committed this offence.”

She then told detectives she came back home on September 5 after being away for three days. Mr Dobrovolskis appeared to be asleep and she began to cook a meal. He came into the kitchen and hit her and put his hands round her throat. She pushed him away and he fell.

She ran out of the house and came back to find him lying on the living room floor.

Mr Waley said he did not expect it to be an issue in the trial that Andersone caused Mr Dobrovolskis’ death. The jury would have to decide if her action was unlawful and if she intended to kill or cause really serious injury.

The court heard the couple were heard arguing earlier that day, with a woman shouting and screaming.

“The prosecution say she intended to cause, at the very least, serious harm and it quickly became apparent that she had succeeded in doing so,” Mr Waley said.

He continued: “She said she pushed him away in self defence. She made no mention of striking him over the head with a meat tenderiser.”

The trial continues.