The jury in the Luke Jones murder trial has retired to consider its verdict today (Thursday).

They retired shortly after Judge Keith Thomas finished summing up the evidence.

Jones, aged 33, of Haven Drive, Milford Haven, denies murdering Natasha Bradbury at Flat A, Imperial Court, off the High Street, Haverfordwest, in the early hours of February 22.

Swansea crown court has heard that she suffered 53 separate, external injuries during a “sustained and severe assault” at her home.

And she lay dying for “one to two hours, hours not minutes” before Jones, her on-off boyfriend, dialled 999 and asked for an ambulance.

By then she was already “freezing cold” and paramedics were unable to revive her.

The prosecution argue he was jealous and possessive and murdered Miss Bradbury, aged 27, just hours after being told she had slept with another man.

Jones, a pipe welder, said Miss Bradbury flew into a rage and accused him of sleeping with a mutual friend.

Jones said he had been “seeing other girls” but not that person.

He said Miss Bradbury jumped on him and he pushed her away.

But she fell onto a glass coffee table, smashing it, and then into a cabinet and finally onto the floor.

Dr Deryk James, a pathologist, told the jury he did not accept that explanation as her injuries were of the severity seen after road traffic accidents or after a severe and sustained assault.

Jones said he then threw Miss Bradbury’s mobile at a television set and went downstairs without appreciating how badly injured she was.

He said he checked on her a while later and dialled 999 when he realised she was seriously hurt.

“I did not mean to kill her,” he added.

He described their relationship as “not good” but said he had loved her.

Yesterday the court heard how Jones originally told police how he had fallen asleep at Miss Bradbury’s home and woke up to the sound of “crashing and banging.”

He said Miss Bradbury had fallen through the glass coffee table.

He said he was in “a blind panic” and tried to check her pulse.

But when all of Miss Bradbury’s injuries were put to him Jones accepted he had grabbed her by the throat and kicked her.

However, he maintained he was acting in self defence.

When asked why he did not tell the police he had kicked her Jones said he was “scared”.

He added: “I do regret that.

"I should have told the truth straight away.”

UPDATE: Jury reaches its verdict.