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A man who is accused of murdering his wife claimed he attacked her with a hammer after hearing "voices" in his head during a "tiff".

Susan Baird, 60, died at her home in Windermere Gardens in the Four Winds area of south Belfast in August 2020.

At Belfast Crown Court on Monday, Gary Alexander Baird, 64, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his wife but not guilty to murder.

The prosecution rejected his plea and proceeded with the murder charge.

Opening the prosecution case, a Crown lawyer told the jury Baird called the 999 service just before 17:00 on the day of the attack and told an operator he had "just murdered his wife" after hitting her with a hammer in their home.

During the emergency call, which lasted approximately eleven minutes, he was asked if his wife was definitely dead to which he replied: "I think so."

When police arrived at the house, they found Mr Baird heavily blood-stained and blood was observed on the kitchen floor.

They found his wife slumped on a sofa in a small room beside the kitchen, with no sign of life, and blood splattered on the wall. They also found a hammer on the kitchen floor.

The accused had a head wound and when he was asked about it, he said: "I did this to myself."

He added: "The voices in my head told me to do it."

'This is your opportunity'

During a subsequent mental health assessment, he said he had "a tiff" with his wife on the day of the killing and further explained that he had a hammer because he had been doing DIY work in the house that day.

The accused then claimed that "voices" in his head had told him: "This is your time. This is your opportunity."

The prosecution lawyer also explained that the defendant claimed he had been "hearing voices" since June of that year.

Mr Baird also said he was sorry and wished he could turn back the clock.

The opening day of the trial, before a jury of seven women and five men, was also told that the issue of diminished responsibility will be raised during the trial.

The hearing on Monday was confined to the opening submission by the prosecution.

Family members were in the public gallery during Monday's proceedings.

The trial continues.