THE Whitehaven man who is on trial for murder was quizzed by police about allegations of assault and controlling behaviour a month before his partner died.

Prosecutors say Paul Irwin, 50, murdered Tiffany Render on March 22 at the George Street flat they had shared after she became “trapped” in a relationship characterised by his controlling and violent behaviour.

He denies murder and a sexual assault.

At Carlisle Crown Court, jurors were given a transcript of Irwin’s police interview after his arrest on February 26 on suspicion of assault and subjecting 34-year-old Miss Render to coercive and controlling behaviour.

The 47-minuite interview was conducted at Workington Police Station after officers found Miss Render outside the Whitehaven flat at 7.30am. She accused Irwin of kicking her so hard she was left in tears.

Police became involved after a neighbour reported hearing a disturbance.

Irwin had earlier called them, asking them to remove Miss Render from his flat. Asked about that, he said: “We had an argument about something stupid. I’m on a suspended sentence so I can’t do anything.”

The suspended sentence was imposed after an earlier assault when Irwin attacked Miss Render with a rolling pin, the court heard.

He described Miss Render as his “girlfriend,” saying: “We do get on, actually, like any other couple.” He said he had asked her for sex the previous night and she had refused and after this “it just escalated.”

Asked more questions about the argument, he said: “I can’t remember half of it.” He just wanted her out of his flat, he said.

They both had a few drinks, he said, but he could not recall how much. He denied using cocaine, or hitting her head with a door.

Irwin also denied kicking Miss Render on the backside as she huddled next to her bag outside the George Street flat, or threatening to “burn” her family photos.

The officers then asked Irwin about the controlling behaviour allegations, beginning with the claim that he had Miss Render’s bank card. She had asked him to keep it because she might lose it, he said.

Asked if he controlled her finances, he said: “No. She does what she wants.” Nor did he control where she went, said Irwin. Asked if he had accused her of cheating on him, which she said never happened, he replied: “I trust her.”

An officer then asked Irwin: “Do you control what she eats, and when she eats?” Irwin replied: “Oh my God, no.” He said he did not control Miss Render and that they were in a “loving relationship”.

Miss Render died from massive blood loss, which Irwin says was the result of consensual sexual activity which went wrong.

The trial continues.