Axe killer's tears in court

Jan Charlton has admitted killing her partner

A woman who hacked her partner to death broke down as she told a jury how she killed him with an axe.

Former escort girl Jan Charlton, 36, claimed she killed businessman boyfriend Danny O'Brien after he threatened to kill her three-year-old daughter Amy.

She said she was amazed when her 40-year-old lover stood up after the first blow and described how she had then kept hitting him in a panic.

Ms Charlton admits killing Mr O'Brien in the bedroom of their luxury home in Midgley, West Yorkshire, on 23 May, 2001, but denies murder, claiming self defence and provocation.

Danny O'Brien's was found bound and gagged

She was in tears as she described agreeing to have sex with Mr O'Brien to calm him down on the day he was killed.

She told the jury at Leeds Crown Court the businessman began to threaten her daughter Amy and said he would chop off her own head if she tried to leave the room.

She said she put handcuffs, a blindfold and a gag on him and he was kneeling down with his back to her when she reached for the axe.

Ms Charlton said: "I grabbed hold of the axe. I just hit him. He sprung up and turned round and his arms were by his side.

"I just thought I hadn't hit him properly and he could have grabbed it off me. He fell down to the floor and I just hit him."

She said she did not realise that she had hit him 20 times with the instrument.

The trial continues.