A FARMER spoke to his lover on the telephone just minutes before his estranged wife stabbed him to death in front of their ten-year-old daughter, a court heard yesterday.

The jury was told how John Lovegreen sent girlfriend Susan Burnett a text message from his mobile phone and she called him back.

Miss Burnett, in tears as she stood in the witness box, said: "I spoke to him on the phone, but during the conversation the phone went dead and I tried to phone and text him back but I got no reply."

Jayne Lovegreen, 34, denies murdering her 34-year-old husband at Baal Hill Farm Cottage, Wolsingham, County Durham, on July 6 last year.

Teesside Crown Court heard earlier heard that, as Mr Lovegreen lay dying on the kitchen floor of the cottage, he held his daughter's hand and told her that he loved her.

Franz Muller, prosecuting, said that Jayne Lovegreen became jealous when she learned that her husband was having a relationship.

Miss Bennett, whose brother owns a farm next door to the Lovegreens' marital home at Greenfield Farm, High Etherley, near Bishop Auckland, said she had been friends with the couple for about eight years.

She said John Lovegreen had sought her advice, but their relationship did not begin until the couple separated in April last year.

The prosecution alleged that, using a kitchen knife, Jayne Lovegreen stabbed her husband to death in front of their daughter, also Jayne.

The court was told that Lovegreen became aware of the relationship and the day before the stabbing had phoned and quizzed her daughter - who was with her father and Miss Burnett and her son on a shopping trip.

Mr Muller said the couple married in 1990 but it was apparent early on that Lovegreen had "a jealous nature".

Also giving evidence was vet and close friend Frances Allen. She said Lovegreen, who still lived at Greenfield Farm, told her that her husband's decision to separate was a "complete surprise".

When she found out about his girlfriend, she felt betrayed because the pair had agreed to tell each other of any relationships so they could speak to their daughter.

Earlier, the court heard that in 1999 Lovegreen took an overdose of paracetamol after a row, but stayed together for their daughter's sake. They decided to separate, however, after Lovegreen attacked her husband with a pan of hot water, scalding his back.

The court heard how on the day after the shopping trip, Lovegreen had again phoned her daughter and Mr Lovegreen had told her she was an "unfit mother'' and that he would not be returning their daughter following her weekend access visit.

She had then armed herself with the knife and tracked down her husband at Baal Hill Farm Cottage where she stabbed Mr Lovegreen, the court heard. She drove off, stopping at a shop and petrol station to buy paracetemol.

"At the petrol station, CCTV footage shows her having a joke with the sales assistant," Mr Muller said.

She was stopped and arrested near Carlisle hours later.

The trial continues.