An Exeter man has gone on trial charged with killing his long-term partner at their home.
Anthony Stayner is alleged to have attacked Tracy Snook-Kite and left her slumped against the front door in such an awkward position that the blood supply to her brain was cut off.
The 52-year-old charity worker died in February after a night out with friends.
Her long-term partner Stanyer, 49, who was brought up in Exeter until he was a teenager and where his father Jeff still resides, is currently on trial accused of her manslaughter. The court heard that during the build up to his trial he had been bailed to stay at his father's address in Exeter.
He denies the charge and claims he slept through the whole incident.
Jurors heard that earlier in the day the couple had argued after she had returned to their home late from visiting her mother.
They both went their separate ways to watch a game of rugby with different groups of friends, with Stanyer returning home at 9pm.
CCTV footage shows charity worker Ms Snook-Kite went to a club and returned to their home in Coventry at around 11.20pm.
Mark Wall QC, prosecuting, said: "What happened in the house? That we have to piece together because tragically Tracy cannot tell us.
"Mr Stanyer has always said that nothing happened in the house.
"The prosecution's case is that this was not an accidental fall.
"Our case is that Tracy Snook-Kite was assaulted by somebody and that assault must have caused her to fall, hit her head and end up in this compromised position."
Mr Wall said that Ms Snook-Kite died as a result of positional asphyxiation and a pathologist discovered bruises on both arms.
Mr Wall said: "Where those bruises were found indicated they were bruises caused by somebody gripping Tracy Snook-Kite."
Mr Wall said that police also found fragments of glass from the couple's front door on Ms Snook-Kite's jumper.
Stanyer dialled 999 and when paramedic Christopher Paul arrived just after 6.30am he told him that he had woken up to find Ms Snook-Kite slumped against the front door.
He told police that he had no idea Ms Snook-Kite had been injured, claiming that he had slept through the entire incident.
Addressing jurors on Stanyer's claim that this was a tragic accident Mr Wall said: "You will have to consider whether it is feasible, even in drink, for her to have fallen hard enough to physically damage the window part of the door - and then knock herself out without any intervention from anyone else.
"Mr Stanyer says he slept through all of it. You will hear from some people who know him and say he is a heavy sleeper.
"You will want to consider whether someone who is a heavy sleeper could have slept through everything that is going on."
The trial continues.
