THE former boyfriend of Hayley Richards slit her throat with a craft knife in a "prolonged, deliberate and fatal attack", a court was told.
The trial of Portuguese factory worker Hugo Quintas, 24, of Seymour Court, Trowbridge, started in Bristol Crown Court yesterday (Monday).
Quintas denies murdering Miss Richards, of Carders Corner, Trowbridge, on June 11 2005. The 23-year-old was three months pregnant at the time of her death.
Quintas has admitted manslaughter on the grounds of provocation.
In his opening speech prosecutor Mark Evans QC warned the jury to act with some caution when considering evidence from Quintas after it was revealed he lied to police in an interview about the whereabouts of blood stained clothing.
The court also heard yesterday Quintas had assaulted Miss Richards in an attack less than a week earlier on June 5 2005.
Joachim Da Cunha, 30, of Seymour Court, a friend of Quintas, is appearing in the same court charged with perverting the course of justice.
He denies washing Quintas' clothes, buying flight tickets and helping him travel to Bristol International Airport after the alleged attack.
The case continues.
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