A man has appeared in court charged with murdering his wife by stabbing her in the head and neck and hitting her in the head with an axe.

Sonita Nijhawan, 38, was found dead in her newly-built home in Crossfield Place, Weybridge, in May.

She and her husband Sanjay, 46, had moved in just days earlier but argued about getting a divorce, Guildford Crown Court was told today.

Sally O’Neill, prosecuting, described how Mrs Nijhawan was found lying in the house having suffered stab wounds to her neck and head. She had also been struck on the head with an axe.

Reading from Mr Nijhawan’s first police interview on May 25, she said the couple had argued on the evening of Friday, May 20, and had discussed getting a divorce.

Ms O’Neill said: “Sonita put her rings on the floor. She said there was no point continuing with the marriage because of his anxiety and depression.”

She said Mr Nijhawan had felt sad but that there was some hope of saving the marriage.

The couple then went to bed, but Mr Nijhawan could not sleep.

She said: “They got up and talked again the following morning. He thought there was a chance, but Sonita didn’t think there was and wanted to tell the family.”

Mr Nijhawan told officers that a fight ensued, which started verbally but became physical when Mrs Nijhawan punched her husband and he started hitting her back.

Ms O’Neill said: “When he was asked about the knife [by officers] he said it was in the kitchen drawer. He said he caused the wounds to her neck with the knife but indicated to the front of her throat.

“He thought he stabbed her because she wanted to tell the family about the divorce.

“He didn’t want to kill her, just to stop the argument. He said it was him who got the axe from the garage, but earlier in the morning. He didn’t know why he got it.

“He said he was behaving irrationally and at one point said ‘deranged’.”

After Mr Nijhawan pushed his wife away he said he stabbed her in the throat then stabbed himself in the leg before hitting her on the head with the axe, jurors were told.

Ms O’Neill said: “When he stabbed her he wanted to end her life and when he used the axe that was to make sure.”

Mr Nijhawan denies murder. The trial continues.