A SOLDIER accused of stabbing his on-off girlfriend to death before dumping her body in a cupboard sobbed in the dock yesterday as he read an emotional apology to the victim’s family.

Jay Nava told the family of 26-year-old Natasha Wake, pictured, that he “did not want this to happen” and said he was “really sorry” about his partner’s death.

Nava denies murdering Miss Wake, who was killed in October 2016 when Nava allegedly stabbed her 11 times with an eight-inch kitchen knife.

The next day, the 27-year-old was found by police hanging from a tree at Hengistbury Head. He was cut down and survived.

Nava said: “I just wanted to say to Natasha’s family that I am really sorry for what has happened and I know they don’t want to hear me say that.

“I know it won’t change anything or make anything better or bring her back. I did not want this to happen and I just wanted to make sure I said that to Natasha’s family.”

In response to questions from Peter Griffiths QC, defending, Nava admitted that he had previously used physical violence against Miss Wake and confessed he had a problem with drink.

The defendant, of the Royal Artillery’s 29 Commando Regiment in Plymouth, Devon, first began a relationship with Miss Wake in 2013. The couple separated in March last year.

Jurors sitting at Winchester Crown Court heard at the start of the trial that Nava allegedly stabbed Miss Wake after a “bitter and acrimonious” row broke out.

The pair argued after she discovered he was investigated for an alleged sex attack, prosecutors claim. Nava was never charged or arrested. The defendant said the investigation was “horrendous”.

“I thought that everything I had worked hard for - my relationship, my job - was at risk,” he said.

“I knew if Natasha saw it, it would be done and I could not risk it.

“Everything became a little too much.”

Miss Wake was stabbed while three children slept upstairs.

Nava said he had no memory of Miss Wake’s death.

"I did hit Natasha. She tried to bite me and then I don't remember anything after that apart from being leant over the body,” he said.

"I was kneeling next to the body, over Natasha, with a knife in my hand. She was laid on her back next to the sofa.

"I will never forget her in that position.

"At that moment, I don't think it properly registered what had happened."

He said that he put a blanket over the body before briefly falling asleep over the floor. He admitted to cleaning the apartment when he woke and putting the body in a cupboard to hide her.

Nava added: "It sounds terrible, but I had to hide her in the cupboard so the children wouldn't see her."

The defendant said that he "definitely was not drunk" on the night of the attack, adding that "Natasha had drunk more than me" on that occasion.

He will continue to give evidence when the trial resumes on Monday.