The jury in the murder trial of a Sardinian accused of travelling to the UK to kill his RAF Lyneham love rival has retired to consider its verdict.

Francesco Matta, a 56-year-old postal worker, stabbed 54-year-old RAF Flight Lieutenant Stephen Keen on July 6 last year.

Matta from Cagliari, Sardinia, attacked Mr Keen in front of his 53-year-old wife Susan Matta who had left the defendant for the former teenage sweetheart she had contacted on the Friends Reunited website for the first time in 30 years.

The killing happened at the home in Tidcombe Walk, Tiverton, Devon, where married Mr Keen and Mrs Matta had moved just a few days before.

Mr Keen, who suffered four knife wounds to the neck and throat, and over a dozen defence wounds to his hands, died in the arms of Mrs Matta.

Matta, of previous good character, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Keen at Exeter Crown Court .

The court has heard that Matta has accepted he killed Mr Keen, but maintained he should be convicted of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility because of depression, or by reason of provocation.

The jury retired yesterday lunchtime.