A MUSIC teacher who killed his partner and put her body in a suitcase in his garage was described in court as a ladies’ man.

A statement from music school director Geoff Whitfield was read out at the trial of Andrew Lindo, 29, originally from Stockton, who has admitted the manslaughter of Marie Stewart.

A jury at Bradford Crown Court has heard how Lindo admitted he strangled, battered and stabbed Miss Stewart, 30.

He then put her body in a suitcase and left it in his garage. Her body was found on February 13, nearly two months later.

Lindo denies murdering Miss Stewart.

The trial heard how he was working as a self-employed voice tutor at the Take Two academy, in Barnsley.

Yesterday, the jury heard a statement from Take Two director Mr Whitfield.

Mr Whitfield said Lindo started work at the centre in September 2008 after he was recommended by another tutor.

He said Lindo was “very likeable, chatty and confident”, and added: “I would say he was a ladies’ man. He certainly felt comfortable in the company of ladies.”

He said he thought of Lindo as a reliable tutor.

Mr Whitfield’s wife, Susan, who is also a director, said Lindo was “very charming, very confident, very chatty”.

Lindo’s neighbour Louise Shackleton described the defendant, Miss Stewart and their two young children as a “normal, everyday, happy family”.

However, she said she once saw Lindo outside his house picking up clothes that Miss Stewart was throwing out of a window.

Prosecutors allege Lindo was living a double life in the run-up to the killing, on December 18, last year, at their home in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire.

They have told the jury he used her Facebook account and mobile phone to send messages to her family and friends when she was dead.

The jury has been told Lindo will claim he was forced to kill his partner to protect their daughter from mistreatment.

The trial will resume on Monday.