ONE of the men accused of murdering Natalie Jarvis in Swanley showed his friend the six-inch bladed knife he said he was going to use to kill her, a court heard today.

Miss Jarvis, 23, was found dead on the ground in Swanley Village Road after suffering more than 20 stab wounds to her neck on October 3 last year.

The prosecution alleges Adam Whelehan, 23, of Roseberry Drive, Sidcup, murdered his girlfriend Miss Jarvis because he "wanted out of the relationship and the only way out he could see was to kill her".

It is also alleged Thomas Fuller, of Oakley Drive, Eltham, also 23, was the "getaway driver".

Whelehan picked up Miss Jarvis from her home with Fuller hiding in the boot of his car at about 10.30pm on October 3 last year, the court has heard.

He drove to a country lane car park in Swanley Village before getting out with Miss Jarvis about 10.50pm and "by the time he returned to the car, then driven by Fuller, she lay dead".

Whelehan has admitted killing Miss Jarvis, who he had been seeing since the summer, but says he did it in "lawful self-defence".

This morning Maidstone Crown Court heard how Whelehan showed his friend Matt Woods "the knife he was going to use to kill Natalie".

Giving evidence, Mr Woods told the court: "In the second or third week in September last year I went to his house. He went to get changed because we were going go the pub.

"When we went into the front room, on the cabinet he showed me a knife.

"He said this was the knife he was going to use. I believe he meant it was the knife he was going to use to kill Natalie because he had been speaking about it before."

Mr Woods, 24, who has known Whelehan for five years and met while working at Morrison's supermarket, told the jury of eight men and four women: "I just thought it was all mouth. I did not believe it would happen."

He described the knife as "green with a sharp pointy edge and a straight outline to it".

He told the court: "I believe the blade was longer than the handle itself - about five or six inches."

The court heard how Whelehan had been "harassed and threatened" by Miss Jarvis.

Sasha Wass QC, counsel for Whelehan, told the court: "She was holding him responsible for her pregnancy and had quite a devastating effect on Adam.

"He was feeling he was being harassed by Natalie. He told you on a number of occasions about being bombarded with phone calls."

Whelehan and Fuller both deny murder.

The trial continues.