A DRUNKEN teenager entered a shop muttering: "What am I going to do about her?" the night before her lover was fatally wounded, a jury heard.

Shopkeeper Catherine Monk told a murder trial at Preston Crown Court that Louise Berry, 19, seemed annoyed as she bought vodka and cans of lager at the Mill Hill Deli on Saturday, August 10, 2002.

The following day, at about 8pm, Mrs Monk said Berry was aggressive to divorced mum-of-two Mandy Burton, while they bought bacardi and vodka in her shop.

An hour later, Berry called 999 claiming to have found Mrs Burton on a settee at their home in Moorgate Street, Blackburn with her skull smashed.

Mrs Burton died three days later from her injuries -- caused by five blows from a blunt weapon.

Berry denies murder and actual bodily harm, relating to a separate incident.

The court has heard that Berry threatened to kill her girlfriend in another 999 call days earlier, because she believed Mrs Burton was having an affair with a man.

And the couple's relationship has been described in court as volatile and fuelled by regular heavy drinking sessions.

Mrs Monk said the couple were regular customers and then described serving Berry on the Saturday: "She appeared to be drunk. She fell about and seemed annoyed.

"She was chunnering to herself and said: 'I don't know what the **** I am going to do about her.'"

Mrs Monk added that Berry then put some money on the counter and asked what she could get before she bought the alcohol and some cigarettes.

Mrs Monk told about the following night and said: "I heard bickering from outside the shop, but couldn't tell what they were saying.

"Louise asked aggressively what Mandy wanted. Mandy said 'Dark rum,' but I only had white rum. Mandy asked which she should get and Louise said 'Get what the **** you want.'

"Mandy then said she wanted some coke and Berry said 'Just ******* get it.'"

Mrs Monk agreed with Alaistair Webster QC, defending, who said Berry's tone could have been sarcastic, typical of her abrupt style.

An hour later, PC Andrew Leaver started interviewing Berry while paramedics treated Mrs Burton, the jury heard.

He said she told him she had not seen Mrs Burton since 8.30am that day.

He added: "She said she was collecting personal belongings because they had split up. She was very upset, emotional and hysterical.

"She stated that she went to her mother's and went to a children's playground for a few hours to think about the end of the relationship."

(Proceeding)