A DOMESTIC “scrap” ended in tragedy after a man on trial for murder punched his partner in the stomach, a court has heard.

Charlie Booth, 27, of Albert Road, in Saltaire, is accused of murdering 26-year-old Lauren Howe on July 24 last year.

He is on trial at Leeds Crown Court (LCC).

Booth and Ms Howe were a couple, getting together when the latter was 15, and had two children.

They lived together in a flat, in Tennis Way, Baildon.

West Yorkshire Police was notified by Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) at 9.46am on July 24 that they were treating an injured woman after an incident in that area.

Ms Howe died at the scene, but her death was later certified at hospital.

Booth denies murder but has admitted to killing his partner, Ms Howe.

Nicholas Lumley KC, for the prosecution, said his case will be he “did not mean it”.

The prosecution closed its case on Wednesday and the defence called Booth to the witness box where he said he punched her in the abdomen but did not intend to kill her, cause her serious harm, or want her to die.

Ms Howe died from an internal injury - her liver was torn open in an injury usually seen "after a car crash or fall from height”.

This led to heavy bleeding in her abdominal cavity (tummy).

She suffered a number of other injuries too.

Booth told the court he had smashed up the house early on July 24 and when Ms Howe got back in from the party she had been at, he said she said “what the f**k have you done” and they began fighting.

He described it as a “scrap” and that their relationship was volatile and they would often argue and fight physically.

Booth claimed Ms Howe was the one who started being violent this time, kicking him in the testicles.

He said: “I think she grabbed hold of the top of my hair, I grabbed her by the face, she was throwing slaps.”

Ms Howe tried to get a finger in his eye but Booth bit her thumb, according to the defendant.

The jury heard Booth then slapped his partner three times before grabbing her arms to “stop her throwing her arms about and slapping my face.”

Booth said the fight continued until they were both apart, before Ms Howe then lunged towards him, hit him on the side of the head, then grabbed his head and they were face-to-face.

It was at this point Booth hit Ms Howe in the stomach with the fatal blow, the court heard.

He said: “I didn't think about it, I just reacted.”

Booth told the court he thought he had just winded her and went out to the balcony but shortly after desperate attempts were made to resuscitate her outside as her body shutdown.

The trial continues.