An Iraq War veteran phoned 999 to report that he had murdered his Britain’s Got Talent finalist girlfriend, a court has heard.
Desmond Sylva, 41, is on trial accused of murdering nurse Simonne Kerr, 31, who was stabbed 70 times at his flat in Clapham, south London, in August last year.
In a phone call played to Old Bailey jurors today, Sylva was recorded telling the operator: "Can I have police please, I've just committed a murder.
"I'm ex-Army and I've got lots of mental health issues."
Asked why he had done it, he said: "She's just get on my nerves, man, trying to fight me and take my money so I had to defend myself (sic)."
Sylva, 41, has admitted the manslaughter of Kerr, but denies murder, claiming that his depression impaired his judgement.
However, the prosecution allege that he attacked the Guy's and St Thomas' nurse simply because he "lost his temper".
Ms Kerr appeared on last year’s series of Britain’s Got Talent when she was part of B Positive, an NHS choir set up for those affected by blood-related conditions.
The court today heard he cut her neck to “defend” himself on August 15 last year.
The day before, Sylva, who served with the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in Iraq and Kosovo, allegedly told his brother he might kill himself or someone else.
The court heard Ms Kerr was attacked by Sylva after returning from work at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in the morning.
When police arrived following Sylva’s 999 call, they discovered Ms Kerr lying naked on the bedroom floor covered by a bloody duvet.
A 20cm knife Sylva used in the attack was discarded in the kitchen sink, jurors were told.
Pc Joe Wright responded to the 999 call and arrested Sylva outside his flat.
In bodycam footage played in court, Pc Wright asked him: "Buddy, do you want to tell us what's been going on?"
Sylva replied: "I've got mental health issues."
The officer asked: "Why have you got blood in your hands?"
The defendant responded: "My girlfriend tried to attack me and I..."
Sylva directed officers to Ms Kerr's body in an upstairs bedroom.
Asked what happened, he said it was "just a fight", adding: "I just defend myself."
Sylva went on to say he injured Ms Kerr's neck with a knife.
Following his arrest, Sylva was asked if he wanted to "clarify" anything.
The defendant said he had "mental health issues" and had taken his olanzapine medication that morning.
Jurors have heard toxicology texts found no alcohol or drugs or presence of olanzapine, a drug used to treat bipolar disorder.
Pathologist Dr Robert Chapman gave the cause of Ms Kerr's death as incised and stab wounds to the neck and face.
He told the court the close grouping of injuries suggested they were caused in "rapid sequence".
The extensive wounds gave her no chance of survival, jurors were told.
Ms Kerr's mother and sister appeared visibly distressed as they listened to the evidence in court.
The trial continues.
Additional reporting by Press Association.
