Murder suspect's 'pistol threat'

Philip McNally in court in Mainz, central Germany

A woman has told a court in Germany how her then boyfriend once threatened her with a baseball bat and pistol after she tried to end their relationship.

Hortensia Kleinert was giving evidence in the trial of Philip McNally, 50, who is accused of raping and drowning Helga Pfirsching at her home six years ago.

Mr McNally, 50, was arrested when South Wales Police took fingerprints after he rowed with his wife back home in Neath.

He denies murder but has refused to answer questions at the trial in Mainz.

It is alleged he stole gold and jewellery after attacking 45-year-old Helga Pfirsching and killing her.

He boasted of killing drug dealers in a forest. He sometimes was frightening Hortensia Kleinert

The mother-of-two was beaten up, handcuffed, raped and then drowned in her suburban semi-detached home in Worms.

Her neighbours told the court they heard screams coming from the house but assumed it was "marital row."

"Me and my wife were sitting on our porch when we heard strange noises from the house next to ours - somewhat like muffled screams of fear and then a rumple, as if a chair was knocked down," the neighbour told the court.

"But when I called and asked if something was wrong the door to the garden was shut anonymously.

"We thought it was just a marital row, so we didn't want to interfere."

Helga Pfirsching's body was discovered by her 14-year-old daughter

A former girlfriend has told the court about his sexual relationships and preferences.

Ms Kleinert told the court how Mr McNally threatened her when she tried to end the relationship.

"He boasted of killing drug dealers in a forest. He sometimes was frightening," she said.

The court heard Mr McNally was sterilised, which the prosecution claim is significant as despite the fact Mrs Pfirsching was raped, no DNA was found at the crime scene.

Other neighbours of the Pfirschings claim to have seen a "man in black" walking up and down the streets near their homes on the day of the murder in April 2002.

One identified Mr McNally in court and said: "Yes, I am quite sure, he is the one I saw six years ago."

Another identified him from a series of photographs.

But another witness has described the carpenter, who lived in Germany for more than 20 years, as a good natured friend who has a great fan of Liverpool football club.

Mr McNally's fingerprints were taken after a row with his wife in Wales that led his arrest and extradition to Germany in February.

The prosecution said they matched prints that were taken from the crime scene in Worms in 2002.