A property worker accused of murdering his wife on New Year's Eve has denied that he chose to teach her "the ultimate lesson" after she failed to rise to "evil" taunts.

David Clark told jurors Melanie Clark had "pushed and double-dared" him into sending a series of social media messages to their relatives, claiming she had a lesbian encounter with his friend's daughter.

During his third day in the witness box, Clark repeatedly broke down in tears as he said he could remember nothing of how his wife suffered a fatal stab wound.

The Crown alleges that Clark, of Cloverdale, Stoke Prior, near Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, killed his wife in anger after she sent him a message telling him to move out of the marital home on New Year's Day.

The 49-year-old, who has a British passport but grew up in South Africa, has told the jury his wife taunted him by making nasty remarks, including comments belittling the size of his genitals.

After taking Clark through a series of electronic messages sent in the last hours of New Year's Eve regarding claims his wife had a lesbian affair, prosecutor Benjamin Aina QC asked: "You were in a vengeful and spiteful mood weren't you sir?"

Clark responded: "No sir, I was just pushed. I don't like conflict.

"She was just pushing me to send those messages - she was laughing at me, calling me names.

"She said 'I don't care if you tell everyone.

"I don't remember picking up the knife. I don't remember anything of that. I just can't comment on that sir."

After Mr Aina described the messages sent to Melanie's son and other family members as an "evil" attempt to blacken the 44-year-old's character, Clark said: "I wasn't vengeful. It was really tense in the

house."

Earlier in his evidence, Clark said he did not know whether his wife's claim of having had a lesbian encounter was true or not, and alleged that she had walked into his room, shouting and sniggering at him.

As well as rejecting claims that he "decided to teach his wife the ultimate lesson" after becoming enraged, Clark said he could not recall telling a 999 operator that he had killed her.

The former military medic conceded that there was no reference to his "willy size" in the social media exchanges between him and his wife.

During re-examination by defence QC Alisdair Williamson, Clark, was asked to recount the last words his wife had spoken to him.

Clark, who denies murder, answered tearfully: "That nobody liked me and if I would do everyone a favour and just kill myself because I was a piece of shit."

The trial continues.