British Policeman Saleem Tony Bukhari was checking his longtime girlfriend Elizabeth Cadell's pulse when fellow officers arrived to his emergency call.

And in the hours after Ms Cadell, a sub-editor at The Royal Gazette , died, Bukhari showed grief then anger and then grief again.

A suicide note -- found crumpled in a trash can -- declared "perhaps it is best that I just disappear'' and "you deserve much better and I'll always love you''.

The note -- addressed to "Smurf'' -- ended: "I'm sorry I had to end it this way. I hope someday you will be able to forgive me.'' Ms Cadell died on May 31, 1997, at the couple's Harvey Hill Road, Devonshire, apartment after taking an overdose of aspirin and paracetamol.

The eight-man, four-woman jury heard motorcycle officer Gareth Swainson testify that just one minute after receiving the distress call at 2.50 p.m., he ran into the apartment to find Bukhari kneeling over a nude Ms Cadell and holding her left forearm. He could see vomit stains on the carpet and the bed and he unsuccessfully checked for a pulse.

P.c. Swainson said Bukhari told him he last saw Ms Cadell lying in bed around 1.45 p.m.

Bukhari had been out on a jog -- P.c. Swainson saw him while on his way to work around 2.30 p.m. -- and returned to find Ms Cadell in a bad state.

Det. Con. Dennis Astwood said he too saw Bukhari holding Ms Cadell's arm, and added there appeared to be a cord "around or resting on her neck''.

He added: "I remained in the residence and I was in the kitchen area when I could see Mr. Bukhari was being comforted outside by other officers.

"I overheard a part of a conversation,'' Det. Con. Astwood continued.

Bukhari trial gets underway "A question was asked about something to do with the telephone and why he made the telephone call from another residence.

"Mr. Bukhari's response was words to the effect of `the b***h unplugged the telephone'. When I heard him saying that, he was angry. At one point later he did exhibit emotion -- sobbing.'' When Bukhari's lawyer Delroy Duncan asked if the full quote was that Bukhari said he found the phone unplugged, tried to get it to work, then went to the neighbour's home, Det. Con. Astwood said: "No, my Lord, I'm sure he said the b***h unplugged the phone.'' Sgt. Phil Lewis said he noted a change in Bukhari's behaviour "as a result of my duties'' after he had been at the apartment for some time.

He added: "It changed in a way that caused me concern for someone who was that close to him. His demeanour changed to something non-committal.'' When asked about a Policeman's duties, Sgt. Lewis said the first duty is to protect life and said officers are always on duty.

"We are trained that we must seek medical assistance,'' he said when asked what an officer should do when confronted with a scene like the one in the apartment.

"Ex-constable Bukhari was fluctuating, almost theatrical. One moment he appeared to be distressed and the next it was no big deal,'' Sgt. Lewis said under cross examination. "That is my opinion.'' Sgt. Lewis said he also checked Ms Cadell's condition when he first arrived, and found her body "cold and clammy to the touch'' and she was stiff when he lifted her foot.

The only other witness yesterday was then-Det. Sgt. Tracy Adams, now an Inspector, who detailed what happened when Bukhari was taken to Police Headquarters to make a statement.

Bukhari was taken back to the apartment to get an answering machine tape Bukhari had mentioned to a junior officer.

Having listened to it, the tape found in the machine was "not found to be material to the case'' Insp. Adams said.

He added Bukhari would only give a Police statement on Ms Cadell's death to his divisional officer, Maurice Pett, whom he trusted.

Bukhari is charged with four counts of manslaughter, all related to various duties he is supposed to have had on that day.

Bukhari denies charges of failing to provide the necessities of life to Ms Cadell both as a Policeman and as a longtime boyfriend.

He has also pleaded not guilty to manslaughter after "undertaking to advise'' Ms Cadell on a dangerous or life-threatening matter, and by having reasonable skill, failed to take reasonable care in that advice.

Lastly Bukhari denies manslaughter in that after assisting her, he failed to provide the same reasonable care in that assistance.

The charges are not listed in the indictment as alternatives.

Crown counsels Patrick Doherty and Larry Mussenden are prosecuting the case.

Assistant Justice Philip Storr is presiding.

In his opening argument, Mr. Doherty said: "Manslaughter is an old word that we don't hear often today. And it means a variety of different things.

"The Crown is not saying that Mr. Bukhari set out to kill Elizabeth Cadell,'' he continued. "This case is about the duty to help someone when they have done something that could cause their death. The Parliament has said that people have a variety of duties.

"Was he under a duty to help save her and secondly did he in the way he acted grossly negligent or did he act recklessly?'' Mr. Doherty said he expected the jury to hear that Ms Cadell told Bukhari around 8.30 a.m. that she had taken the aspirin and he saw the empty canisters.

He asked her repeatedly if she was okay and gave her some advice on purging it from her system. The couple had sex before Bukhari went for the jog.

The case continues.

No cuts: Jennifer Smith