A JURY has retired to consider its verdict on an estate agent from Bromsgrove, accused of murdering his wife on New Year's Eve.

Birmingham Crown Court has been told David Clark stabbed Melanie Clark in the chest after a domestic argument in which she ordered him to leave the marital home the following day.

South Africa-born Mr Clark, of Cloverdale, Stoke Prior, denies murder, claiming a "loss of control" due to his wife’s "extremely grave" words and actions.

Mr Clark claims his wife, aged 44, belittled the size of his genitals, informed him of a lesbian affair and made other cruel remarks in the days, months and years leading up to the killing.

The prosecution alleges that 49-year-old Mr Clark, who had been drinking Prosecco and a whisky-based mixer drink that evening, became "uncontrollably" angry when his wife refused to rise to taunts contained in text messages sent to friends.

During his evidence to the court, Mr Clark claimed to remember nothing of the fatal incident, but told jurors he was not in a "vengeful and spiteful mood" and was "pushed" into sending the texts by Mrs Clark.

Before sending the jury out to consider its verdict, judge Mr Justice Morris told the panel: "The issue in this case is whether the prosecution have proved, so you are sure, that when he killed his wife David Clark did not act as a result of loss of control."