THE manager of a bookmakers launched a “brutal, drunken and ultimately fatal” attack on his partner, who earlier in the night had told friends she wanted to marry him, a court has heard.

In the prosecution's opening speech, it was alleged Andrew Gaffney, of Richmond Road, Barnet, beat his then partner, 50-year-old Maria Colaco in her Whetstone home, on New Year's day.

A jury at the Old Bailey heard the couple had left Winters Pub, in Ballards Lane, Finchley, just after 2am on January 1, and taken a taxi back to Maria's flat, in Simmons Close.

Witnesses today told how they thought Mr Gaffney was drunk and had tried to kiss the manager at the pub as a joke during the celebrations. He had been seen mixing his drinks to include measures of brandy, which witnesses described as “unusual” because he usually only drank lager.

Prosecution barrister, Duncan Penny, said a row broke out between the pair when they got home, which was heard in part by a neighbour downstairs.

Mr Gaffney then made two short calls to his son at about 4am, who sent a text back telling him not to play games because it was “upsetting” and asked: “what happened?”

Mr Penny said: “What had happened is what brings us here. Because what had happened was that at that address, his father had launched a brutal, drunken and ultimately fatal attack on the woman with whom he had left the public house.

“As a result, Maria's New Year proved to be very short lived indeed.”

He said what happened between 2.20am and 3.48am was unclear, adding: “That is partly because Maria Colaco is sadly not here to tell us what happened.

“As you will hear, the defendant has said only limited things about his actions.”

Maria, a popular grandmother who used to work as a bar lady and a cleaner in the borough, was taken to the Royal Free Hospital, in Hampstead, for treatment, but died seven days later.

Doctors who assessed Maria noted “severe bruising” to her body and legs, and her face was “completely swollen”.

She remained in intensive therapy for seven days until she suffered a heart attack. The cause of death was given as traumatic damage to the brain, similar to that suffered in a serious road traffic crash or a fall from more than 12 feet.

His honour Judge Forrester, told the jury they are considering whether Mr Gaffney murdered Maria, which would translate as the “unlawful killing of another person with the intent to cause at least serious injury”.

Maria met father-of-four Mr Gaffney when visiting the William Hill bookmakers, in Ballards Lane, to put bets on for regular customers and to pick up change for the pub, the court was told.

Mr Penny added that she had told a lot of people “she wanted to marry the defendant” and had even repeated the sentiments to her manager at Winters Pub on New Year's eve.

The court heard Mr Gaffney returned home following the attack, stood in the doorway of his mother's bedroom and said: “Mum, I have hit Maria many times. The police will be coming round to arrest me.”

The next day, Mr Penny said Mr Gaffney told his mother “I am not drinking again” before going back to Maria's flat at about 3.15pm to check on her.

From there he called the ambulance service and waited until they and the police arrived.

After being arrested, Mr Gaffney is reported to have said: “I deserve all the hurt I get after what I have done.”

Mr Gaffney denies murder. The trial continues.