Man accused of wife murder claims she abused him

A man accused of killing his estranged wife with a table lamp has claimed he was defending himself "against abuse" in his home.

Mark Donovan is on trial charged with murdering Elise Mason in Great Baddow, near Chelmsford, in April 2023.

The 39-year-old, of Rothmans Avenue, Great Baddow, has suggested he is innocent on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

On Monday, Chelmsford Crown Court was told the defendant believed Ms Mason had "control over my life".

Mr Donovan did not give live evidence himself, and instead jurors were read extracts from interviews conducted with Dr Raman Deo, a consultant forensic psychiatrist.

The defendant said he had invited Ms Mason to his home on 25 April, a few days before her birthday.

"I was elated that day. I went upstairs to get her presents," said the defendant.

"When I came down she held something towards me, I think it was a knife."

Mr Donovan told Mr Deo: "I was in my home and I defended myself against abuse."

The defendant also claimed Ms Mason put him in a dog cage on a previous occasion, as well as having bit him, stabbed him and pushed him down the stairs.

"She had control over my life. I was getting messages at night, some were cruel and unkind, but I would never hurt my wife."

Prosecutors have already explained how the pair's relationship fell apart in 2022 and that he suspected she had found a new lover.

They said he strangled, beat her and inflicted 70 injuries.

He was arrested after walking into a police station in the early hours of 26 April, while eating a Chinese takeaway.

Prosecutor Andrew Jackson told jurors there was no disputing that Mr Donovan had a personality disorder.

The defendant was seen pacing up and down in the dock during his defence evidence.

Mr Jackson said: "In order for this defence or partial defence to apply - the person at the time of the killing must have been suffering an abnormality of mental functioning that arose from a recognised mental condition."

However, Dr Deo said he believed Mr Donovan was not suffering an abnormality of mental functioning at the time of the killing.

The trial continues.

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