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A man accused of bludgeoning his partner to death with a hammer told a 999 call operator "I think I have murdered my missus".

Teresa Garner, 46, died of multiple head wounds in what prosecutors said was a "sustained and ferocious attack with a hammer".

The first day of her 51-year-old partner John Garner's trial heard on Tuesday that Ms Garner had suffered between 15 and 20 blows when she died at her home in Penyffordd, Holywell, in October last year.

There were also signs she had been punched or slapped to the mouth and there were defensive wounds on her hands, Mold crown court heard.

A 999 call made by Garner at about 10am on October 24 was played to the jury. He was heard to say: "I think I have murdered my missus."

Police attended soon after and found a blood stained 51-year-old Garner. One officer was said to have reported that Garner appeared drunk.

A hammer with blood on it was later recovered from a nearby rear garden.

He was cautioned, taken to North Wales Police's custody rooms at St Asaph and then to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd to be checked over.

Garner was reported to have told an inspector and custody nurse "I know what I have done" and "I can only be pushed so far and everybody has a breaking point," prosecutor John Philpotts said.

(Image: Andrew Price / View Finder Pictures)

Evidence showed Ms Garner had been attacked at the top of the stairs and it continued into the bathroom, where she was later found by police with "catastrophic and fatal" head injuries, Mt Philpotts added.

He said Garner had carried out the deadly attack after becoming angry when a former boyfriend of Ms Garner - Stuart Jones, the father of Ms Garner's daughter - came back on the scene.

(Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Daily Post)

Garner later claimed to have no memory of how Ms Garner was injured, or of throwing the hammer into a nearby garden. He also denied being jealous.

A statement by construction site manager Darren Jones, who was working nearby, said he heard an argument break out between a man and a woman and then the female emitted a “shrill” noise, lasting about four seconds and then it went quiet. A dog that had been barking also went quiet.

(Image: Daily Post Wales)

Giving evidence, Mr Jones said he had made contact with Ms Garner after spotting their daughter, who he hadn't seen since after she was born, at a car auction.

During October, Mr Jones started coming to Ms Garner's house to see his daughter.

He exchanged messages with the victim, which were initially about their offspring, but some were "flirtatious".

Mr Jones admitted still having feelings for Ms Garner and had sent a message to her saying he hoped one day they could get back together.

The trial continues. Garner denies murder.