A MAN accused of murdering his partner by stabbing him through the heart has told a jury there is a possibility he may have killed him.

David Fielding claimed James Todd attacked him in the flat they shared, so he hit back to get him out of the way.

But after a certain point, he could not remember what happened, he told Preston Crown Court.

The 25-year-old said he had felt scared and wanted to get out of the flat in Clayton-le-Moors as quickly as he could.

He vaguely recalled leaving the Rutland Close home with Mr Todd shouting at the time, he said.

The badly decomposed body of the 27-year-old chef was found in the bedroom of the flat in late September.

Fielding, who denies murder, told the court he met Mr Todd in April 2009 and a casual relationship developed. He said the relationship was very volatile.

When not drinking Mr Todd could appear a really nice person, loving and quite caring, Fielding told the court.

The defendant said when intoxicated, the other man could be ‘extremely aggressive, violent and threatening towards me and others around him’.

He spoke of having sustained a broken nose on three occasions, as well as countless black eyes.

By early September, the relationship was on the rocks and he was ready to leave. It was just a case of plucking up the courage to walk away, he said.

Fielding said that on September 6 he went to collect his bag, intending to go to his parents' home.

He told the court: “James launched himself at me in the living room. He dived at me. I felt something in the small of my back, so I hit him back to get him out of the way, so I could get out as soon as possible.

“I was trying to get to the hallway. James had my bag. He was pulling my bag. He pushed me in the hall. From then on I can't really remember anything else.

“I was scared he was going to do some serious damage to me. I vaguely remember leaving. James was shouting something at me.”

Dennis Watson QC, prosecuting, asked: “Do you admit you killed James Todd?”

Fielding replied: “There is a possibility.”

(Proceeding)

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