A 23-YEAR-OLD Sidcup man murdered his girlfriend from Swanley because he “wanted out of the relationship,” a court heard today.

Natalie Jarvis, 23, was found dead on the ground in Swanley Village Road after suffering stab wounds to her neck on October 3 last year.

Thomas Fuller, of Oakley Drive, Eltham, and Adam Whelehan, of Roseberry Drive, Sidcup, both 23, went on trial at Maidstone Crown Court this morning charged with her murder.

A jury of eight men and four women heard how Whelehan - who had been seeing Miss Jarvis since the summer - and his friend Fuller had been drinking in Sidcup on the night of her death.

Whelehan drove to her house at around 10.15pm because he “wanted a chat.”

Ian Acheson, prosecuting, told the court: “Natalie came out in her pyjamas, unbeknown to the fact Fuller was hiding under the parcel shelf in the boot.

“They drove to Swanley and at about 10.50pm and got out.

“By the time Whelehan returned to the car, then driven by Fuller, she lay dead in the road with multiple stab wounds to her throat.”

Mr Acheson said: “He wanted out of the relationship and the only way out he could see was to kill her.

“Whelehan drove as a part of a plan to get rid of her and murdered her.

“For his part Whelehan accepts he did kill Natalie Jarvis but claims what he did was in lawful self defence.

“Mr Fuller, for his part, says Mr Whelehan was nothing to do with him and he was not part of the team.”

Fuller and Whelehan both deny murder.

The trial continues and is expected to last up to four weeks.