Murder accused collapses in court

Flt Lt Stephen Keen was stabbed in the throat and neck

The man accused of stabbing his wife's lover in the home she shared with her childhood sweetheart broke down in court and collapsed in the dock.

Francesco Matta, 56, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Flt Lt Stephen Keen, 54 on July 6 last year.

Mr Keen was living in Tiverton, Devon, with the defendant's wife Susan, 53, who had left her husband in Sardinia.

The trial of Mr Matta was adjourned at Exeter Crown Court before lunch after he fell to the floor sobbing.

Just before Mr Matta collapsed, the court heard from the Home Office pathologist Dr Gyan Fernando.

He said Mr Keen had died as a result of two wounds to the right hand side of his neck which ran into each other and cut the carotid artery twice.

"This was likely to lead to rapid death in a matter of minutes," he added.

When the court heard Dr Fernando describing an apparent bite mark on Mr Keen's body, Mr Matta collapsed in the dock.

The court had heard how Mrs Matta had decided to live with her lover, Mr Keen, whom she had a relationship with three decades ago, after contacting him through the website Friends Reunited.

'Calm and composed'

When the court re-adjourned the jury heard from Pc Adine Curran who said when he arrived at the Tiverton property Mr Matta was "very calm and composed."

He added when Mr Matta was arrested for attempted murder and handcuffed, he said: "You do not need to do this.

"I am not a bad guy. I have done what I had to do."

There were 13 wounds to Mr Keen's hands, a number of them knife injuries which were defence wounds.

Martin Meeke, QC for the prosecution, has told the court Mr Matta admitted killing Mr Keen but would say he should be convicted of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility due to Mr Matta's depression.

The trial continues.