A man allegedly murdered by his girlfriend after slapping her had a criminal past - including convictions for grievous bodily harm and sexual assault, a court heard.

The information about Edward Allen (Sleepy) Dill was shared with a Supreme Court jury yesterday by a Police officer who investigated his death.

Detective Constable Don DeSilva said in October 1991 Mr. Dill was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm to Shawn A-Meal Thomas, possessing an offensive weapon and fighting in public.

In April 1992, he was convicted of unlawfully assaulting Kenneth Andrew and doing him bodily harm. In November 1998 he was sent to jail for 18 months for sexually assaulting a woman who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The recommendations of the Magistrate who jailed him were that he should seek treatment for problems with alcohol and sexual behaviour, according to Det. Con. DeSilva.

Mr. Dill, 35, bled to death from a neck wound at his girlfriend Andrina Tamara Smith's apartment in Cedar Park, Devonshire, on October 16 2006.

Prosecutors claim he slapped Smith, 26, during an argument and she reacted by plunging a kitchen knife through a wooden door and into his neck as he tried to block her from a bedroom. She denies murder.

Answering questions from her lawyer Charles Richardson yesterday, Det. Con. DeSilva said he first met Smith in King Edward VII Memorial Hospital on October 16 2006. She was being treated for injuries sustained during the incident in the early hours of that day.

He later conveyed her to Somerset for an independent medical examination - telling Mr. Richardson he noted she had "severe swelling" to her face. He also noted that she complained of soreness to her jaw when eating.

Det. Con. DeSilva was present during an interview with Smith at Hamilton Police Station the following day, which he described to the court as a "no comment" interview.

Mr. Richardson put it to him that as he detailed the allegations against Smith he accused her of stabbing Mr. Dill, but not of stabbing him through a door. The detective replied that although he could not recall exactly what was said, an audio tape is available of the interview.

The case continues.