A WOMAN who stabbed her partner twice in the back with a large kitchen knife later told police she had acted in self-defence, a jury heard.
Bradford Crown Court was told that Julie Harris, 34, attacked Graham Carter because she was in fear of him and "had been acting in her defence and that of her children".
Mr Carter was taken to hospital on the night of the attack and then released after a few days.
He died of a heart attack which was linked to the stab wounds three weeks later when he was readmitted to Calderdale Royal Hospital.
The court heard the couple argued after Mr Carter, also known as Greg, returned to their home at Smith House Close, Brighouse, after drinking.
Simon Jackson QC, prosecuting, told the jury Mr Carter, 46, was drunk, aggressive and abusive and was threatening to break the windows.
Harris became angry and threw a plastic Christmas tree at him, ran into the kitchen and armed herself with a knife. Mr Carter tried to follow her but her eldest son blocked his path.
Mr Jackson said: "She returned to the kitchen carrying the eight-inch bladed knife. He said `come on, kill me' and that alleges the Crown is exactly what she did."
There was a struggle. He tried to take the knife off her but she stabbed him once in the back, causing a minor injury, and then stabbed him harder, causing a deep penetrating wound.
Harris was arrested and when interviewed told police:
"He had been goading me and threatening to put the windows through."
She told the police that it had crossed her mind to stab him in the chest, but "something had clicked in her head" and she realised that this would kill him so went for the back.
Mr Jackson told the jury: "These replies show that in a state of anger she deliberately armed herself with a lethal weapon and stabbed him in a quite calculated way."
Wayne Bradbury, Mr Carter's son from a previous relationship, said the couple, who had been together 16 years, would often argue, but there was never any violence.
Harris , a mother-of-four, denies murder. The hearing continues.
