Man accused of murdering partner at caravan park says he “lost it”

The man accused of murdering his partner during a visit to the East Coast to mark her birthday told a jury that he “lost it” on the night she died.

Andrew Highton, who is alleged to have punched, kicked and stamped on Linda Treeby as well as smashing a glass ashtray on her, told the jury at Lincoln Crown Court on Monday, November 25 that he regretted what happened and he loved her.

Highton, who went into the witness box at the start of the second week of his trial, said that on the afternoon of the day she died they went to a pub and played pool but left after Linda became “a bit aggressive”.

He told the jury “She was a bit worse for wear. I just wanted to get her home.”

Highton said they returned to their caravan on the Summerlands site at Ingoldmells and he sat down to watch television while his partner was in the kitchen preparing food.

“I think she was looking for an argument. She asked if I wanted food. I said ‘no’. She spilled some and chucked the rest in a bag.”

Highton said that then Linda made a comment about his daughter not wishing her happy birthday.

“I was trying to calm her down. It had no effect. She was just getting louder.

“I stood up to go out of the caravan. She was stood there not letting me past.”

He said that as the conversation continued Linda called him a pervert. He told the jury “That made me feel worthless. I was worth nothing.”

Highton claimed she then commented about the fact that he was not present when his mother died and about how his dad didn’t want him.

“She punched me in the head. She also slapped me around the head. She was saying that my family hate me.

“Then she’s gone to punch me. I pushed her and she’s gone back. She’s fallen on the floor on her face. I did it to defend myself.

“I put my hand out to help her up. As I did that she’s kicked me in the groin area. I kicked her and caught her round the leg area.

“She was screaming. She was shouting. Then I’ve hit her with my fist. I hit her three, four times.

“I didn’t want to hurt her. I’d just had enough I didn’t want to have it no more. She shouldn’t have been saying it. It happened very fast. It just happened and I regret it.

“I lost it. I loved her very, very much.”

Under cross-examination Highton said he only used his fists and he denied kicking, stamping and smashing a glass ashtray in Linda’s face.

He said he had no idea how the ashtray was smashed.

Andrew Highton, 51, of Highbury Road, Bulwell, Nottingham, denies murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter on May 29 this year.

The trial continues.