THE pregnant girlfriend of Anthony Eaves, who was killed while out celebrating his 32nd birthday, today spoke of her devastation at his death.

Anthony, known to friends and family as Tony, was stabbed in the early hours of Saturday morning in an incident in Wigan. The former Blackburn man, whose family still live in the town, moved to Wigan two years ago to start a new life.

Tony had one child with girlfriend Joanne Bean, 11-month-old Victoria. Joanne, 29, is four months pregnant with their second baby, again a girl.

Today Joanne, who has a two-year-old son, Bradley, from a previous relationship, said: "Tony loved the kids and was looking forward to being a dad again. He had been joking with Bradley that they will have to stick together because it would be two men against three women.

"I haven't taken it in that he is dead. I can't believe it. No one deserves to be killed, especially not when you are so young."

His mother Louise had taken him out days before for his birthday and his brother Martin, both who live in Blackburn, was planning to go out with Tony on the night of his death.

Joanne said Tony had recently enrolled on a gardening course. She added: "I had been going out with him for nearly two years now. He was so gentle and would do anything for anyone."

Paramedics called police to an address in Wigan shortly after 4am last Saturday morning. Anthony was pronounced dead at the scene. A man was arrested and taken to Wigan police station, where he was quizzed by detectives before being charged with murder last Sunday. He appeared before magistrates on Monday and was remanded in custody until April 11.