Husband 'cut his wife's throat'

A woman was murdered by her husband after their stormy relationship turned violent in the months before her death, Oxford Crown Court heard.

Deborah Smith, who was 47, was found with her throat cut in Wheatley, near Oxford, in May last year.

Witnesses for the prosecution said Ms Smith's appearance had changed over the last year before she died.

Her husband, 49-year-old Russell Yeates, of Bell Lane in Wheatley, denies murder.

On Tuesday the jury heard evidence from four prosecution witnesses.

Lost weight

Shirley Jones, who was a friend of Ms Smith's, described the couple's relationship as "stormy" and said it grew more and more violent in the months before her friend's death.

She said Mr Yeates had threatened Debbie and on one occasion in front of her said he would kill Debbie if she did not get out of the house they shared.

She told the court that she was often called to the house by text.

She added that Debbie's appearance had changed in the last 12 months before her death - that she had lost weight after her husband had told her she was too fat.

The prosecution said Mr Yeates stabbed Debbie in the throat, severing her jugular vein.

Mr Yeates denies the charge against him and the case continues.