THE wife of a man accused of murdering an SECC conference delegate told a court he was violent.

Paula Carter, 33, was giving evidence at the trial of her 35-year-old security guard husband Clive Carter, who denies murdering Khanokporn Satjawat at the Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow, on November 13, last year.

He has admitted killing Miss Satjawat from Thailand, who was a visiting a medical conference at the SECC, by smashing her over the head and face with a fire extinguisher, but claims he has no memory of the attack.

In evidence at the High Court in Glasgow Mrs Carter denied Carter was manipulative.

She was asked by advocate depute John Scullion, prosecuting: "Is your husband manipulative, does he manipulate you," and she replied: "No."

Mr Scullion said that she had told police in a statement that she had said he was manipulative. But she said she couldn't remember.

Mr Scullion then asked if her husband had ever strangled her and she said he had done so once.

He showed her a police statement taken on January 13, in which she stated: "I didn't have any marks or bruises. He just strangled me to the point of going red and then he let me go." and asked: "Did you say that to the police?" Mrs Carter replied: "I don't know I don't know what the context is. I don't remember the conversation. I can't remember saying that."

She did admit to the jury that Carter often had episodes of explosive rage where he would throw things at her. These items included a coffee table and a laptop. She told the jury: "He threw whatever was to hand."

She also revealed that on one occasion when he couldn't find a tin opener, he wrecked the kitchen.

Mrs Carter said: "The only thing left standing was my microwave."

Mr Scullion said: "You are trying to protect your husband," and she said: "I'm not, I don't excuse what my husband has done."

She also told the prosecutor: "You are trying to portray me as a battered wife. I'm not. I give as good as I get."

She told defence QC Ian Duguid that after the violent explosive incidents Carter couldn't remember what he had done and added: "Once when he pushed me to the ground in a rage, he came back in the room and said 'what are you doing on the floor?'. He didn't realise what he had done until I told him."

The QC asked: "Is he able to control himself when he's in one of his explosive rages," and she said: "No."

Mrs Carter told the court that she was fired from her job and her family is suffering as a consequence of what happened.

Mr Duguid said: "There have been considerable consequences for you, but you realise someone has died."

Mrs Carter replied: "I'm sorry, but my main concern is my three children."

Psychiatrist Dr John Crichton told the jury that he believed Carter had an emotionally unstable personality.

The trial continues.