Partner had 'beaten up murder victim before fatal attack'
A mother of two allegedly murdered by her partner had previously been beaten up by him, a jury heard.
Tina Billingham, who lived with Ronald Cooke for over 15 years, was battered and bruised when finally seen after a week's silence by her sister Mandy Collins around four years before her death, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
Ms Collins explained: "Her son Jack told me he couldn't get hold of his mum. I tried to ring her house phone and went round numerous times but could not get an answer.
"In the end I knew she was there because I could hear the dog and shouted through the letter box that if she did not answer I would kick the door in or put the windows in.
"When she opened the door she was wrapped in a dressing gown. Her face was bruised and she had a black eye.
"She told me Ron had stood over her with a stick or piece of wood and hit her with it. She asked: 'What have I done to deserve this?'"
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Ms Collins continued: "She was the passive one in their relationship which was dominated by Ron. It was his way or no way.
"There were times when I knew Tina was unhappy because she told me. She would make an effort not to rock the boat or upset Ron."
Ms Collins said her sister was very fond of the children of the defendant's two sons and claimed: "One of the reasons she stayed with Ron was her contact with the grandchildren."
Miss Billingham spent a week in a local authority hostel after being 'kicked out' of the house in 2015, the court heard.
It was said she had once taken an overdose and was on anti depressants at the time of her death on February 6.
Extra stress had allegedly been placed on the relationship with her partner by the time she had spent clearing out the home of a 'hoarder' uncle so the elderly man could be released from hospital. The couple were supposedly on their way to visit him when she was fatally stabbed.
Angry Cooke, aged 55, had torn the land line out of the wall and broken the mobile phone of 54-year-old Miss Billingham earlier in the day, said Miss Rachel Brand QC, prosecuting, who alleged the atmosphere in the couple's Granville Road, Old Hill house was such that their normally placid pet dog attacked both of them.
The prosecution claim Cooke stabbed his 54-year-old partner through the heart and liver with a sword stick after stopping the van in which they were travelling. He admits they argued but maintains the fatal injuries were self inflicted.
The defendant drove her to the doctor's surgery at Rowley Healthcare in Hawes Lane, Rowley Regis where staff tried to save her. She was later pronounced dead at Russells Hall Hospital.
Cooke denies murder and the case continues.
