A Brechin man accused of murdering his girlfriend told a friend that he had “put his own hands on her” just weeks before her death, a trial has heard.
Keith Rizzo is standing trial accused of killing his partner Neomi Smith by repeatedly hitting her on the head and body with knives in her Brechin flat on June 9 last year.
On the fourth day of proceedings at the High Court in Glasgow Ryan MacDonald, 21, said he picked Rizzo up from Miss Smith’s flat and dropped him off at his grandfather’s house at about 3am on May 30 2019 after his longtime friend had called him.
The jury were shown text messages sent between the pair around half an hour later in which Rizzo said he thought he and Miss Smith would break-up after an incident that morning.
The text, sent by Rizzo, said: “I was stupid enough to put my own hands on her tonight Ryan”.
It was followed by an “embarrassed” emoji.
He added: “Know how much of a selfish cowardly piece of s*** I feel right now.
“She genuinely was my world. I will never have her back. I couldn’t be more grateful I got to meet her and be with her.”
Mr MacDonald replied:” Fs, you cannae go and put your hands on a lass. You will scare her more than anything else and you will feel s*** after it.
“You’re meant to live (sic) the person.”
Rizzo later texted his friend, writing: “we’re back together just”.
The full charge states Rizzo attacked Ms Smith, compressing her neck thereby restricting her breathing.
He is then said to have repeatedly struck the care worker on the head and body with knives.
He is also accused of assaulting Miss Smith to her injury and danger of life between May 5 and June 8 2019.
Rizzo is also accused of assaulting three former partners and threatening another sometime between December 2014 and May 2019
He denies all charges.
The trial, before Lady Rae, continues.
