A jury has heard how a stab victim, who died three weeks later from an infection, joked with nursing staff when he was first admitted to hospital.

Bradford Crown Court was told Graham Carter was taken to Calderdale Royal Infirmary last December after his partner Julie Harris stabbed him in the back during an incident at their home in Smith House Close, Brighouse.

Yesterday the jury was read details of an emergency call in which the 34-year-old admitted the stabbing. During the call Harris claimed to have stabbed Mr Carter when he came for her.

She told the communications supervisor: "I ran off because I was scared. I've just come back, but I've done nowt wrong...I've just had enough.''

Mr Carter was eventually taken to hospital by ambulance, but the court heard he was grumbling because he had no money to get him back home.

Staff nurse Susan Flood described how she examined Mr Carter and checked the two-and-a-half centimetre puncture would in his back.

She said his pulse, blood pressure and respiratory rate were all within the normal range and the was very little blood on the dressing which had been applied to the wound.

"My assessment was that he had obviously taken a good quantity of alcohol,'' said Miss Flood. "He was in a very jovial mood, but coherent.''

When she was pressed about his attitude and mood at the time Miss Flood said: "He was cracking jokes with myself and other members of staff in the department. He was wanting to stand up and walk around.''

During cross-exminaton by Harris' barrister Roger Thomas QC Miss Flood said she had been told that Mr Carter was drinking cider all day, but on his arrival he was conscious and gave no cause for concern.

Miss Flood said Mr Carter wasn't sure if he had been stabbed, but added that if Harris had done that she would have been provoked by him.

Mr Thomas asked how that was said and Miss Flood replied: "It was said in a light-hearted manner.

Mr Carter had a chest drain fitted during his stay in hospital, but he was eventually discharged two days later.

The court has heard how the 46-year-old stopped eating and had difficulty breathing in the days following the stabbing. He was re-admited to hospital but suffered a fatal heart attack as a result of the infection.

The mother-of-four has pleaded not guilty to murdering her partner.

The trial continues.