A FORMER escort girl who hacked her businessman boyfriend to death with an axe joked with friends about missing out on a white dress and a £20,000 ring in the days following the killing, a court heard today.

A 35-year-old woman, identified as Mrs F, told Leeds Crown Court how Jan Charlton went to her Lancashire home shortly after the death of 40-year-old Danny O'Brien last year.

Mr O'Brien was found naked and face down in his blood spattered bedroom with an axe embedded in his head on May 23, 2001, at the home he shared with Charlton in Midgley, West Yorkshire.

Mr O'Brien lived in Holme Terrace, Townsendfold, Rawtenstall, until three years ago.

Charlton has admitted to the court that she killed Mr O'Brien but she denies murder.

She says she was acting in lawful self-defence after her partner threatened to kill both her and her daughter, Amy, now four years old. Charlton, 36, also claimed provocation.

Mrs F said Charlton was "laughing and joking" one minute then hysterical and emotional the next during the visit just days after the axe attack.

She said Charlton's attitude made her uneasy and she added: "For somebody who's just lost a partner, she was joking about. I didn't trust her."

(Proceeding)