A COURT was told how a young woman was stabbed to death by her boyfriend moments after discovering he was having an affair.

Mario Carvalho inflicted 50 wounds on 19-year-old Jane Treasure which included plunging a 18cm-long serrated breadknife into her chest and back.

The jury was told how Carvalho allegedly killed Miss Treasure before attempting to murder his best friend Damien Sharpe during a murder trial at Reading Crown Court.

The lovers had been heard arguing by neighbours, with Miss Treasure accusing Carvalho of having sex with a woman called Shannon.

During the argument at his home in Ledger's Road, Chalvey, Cavalho begged for forgiveness, but the East Berkshire College student punched him so hard in the face that he fell to the floor.

The court also heard that Miss Treasure had warned Cavalho, now 25, in the days leading up to the murder to end his friendship with Mr Sharpe because she disapproved of him.

Prosecutor John Price said blood was splattered on the walls and sheets following the attack which also left Miss Treasure with deep cuts to her shoulders and the murder weapon being driven through her wrist.

Mr Price said the injuries indicated Miss Treasure had tried to defend herself. He added: "The injuries were consistent with a struggle where at least one of its participants was bleeding." The jury of eight women and four men were told that after the killing, Carvalho used Miss Treasure's mobile phone to call her brother Aaron to tell him to come to the house, stating: "Jane needs your help. She's in trouble." The trial, which began on Monday, also heard that after the attack on Miss Treasure in the early hours of November 18, 2008, Carvalho bought some cigarettes and a bottle of vodka and walked to Mr Sharpe's home in The Crescent.

Although he initially greeted him affectionately, Carvalho proceeded to slash his neck after claiming he had driven him to murder.

Mr Sharpe, 24, told the court: "He passed me the 'twos' (slang for sharing a cigarette) and then went for me. He tried hitting me first but I ducked. I ran into the shed. He cornered me there and punched me in the face then he pulled out the blade and went for my neck and my cheek and the back of my head." Police traced Carvalho at his home shortly afterwards. As he was being arrested on suspicion of attempting to murder Mr Sharpe, he said: "There's someone upstairs who needs your help." Officers then found Miss Treasure's blooded body and also arrested him on suspicion of murder.

Carvalho denies charges of murder and attempted murder. The trial continues.