A 41-year-old Waterford man accused of murdering his wife admitted to gardaí that he was 'a wife-beater', but said he did not kill his wife.
John O'Brien denies the murder of Meg Walsh between 1 and 15 October 2006.
In an interview with detectives from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation after her body had been found, Mr O'Brien denied inflicting the injuries that led to his wife's death.
It was put to him by gardaí that he was a wife beater and he said: 'If you want, you can say it.'
He was then asked 'what are you?' and he replied, 'I am a wife-beater', but he said he did not kill her.
Mr O'Brien had already admitted to gardaí that he had assaulted his wife less than a fortnight before she went missing.
The Central Criminal Court heard that gardaí did not find any blood stains in Mr O'Brien and Ms Walsh's house relating to her death, but did find a blood stain on the stairs which the jury was told related to an 'earlier matter'.
Gardaí put it to Mr O'Brien that he killed his wife to take back control because he knew he was losing her.
Gardaí said he threw money at her to stop her leaving but she had had enough. But Mr O'Brien told gardaí he and his wife were making it up and were planning holidays together.
The court also heard that Ms Walsh's wedding ring, engagement ring and other jewellery were found in an ashtray in their home by gardaí.
