A mother who was hammered to death by her jealous partner told her close friend she feared she would not be seen alive again in the days before her death, a court heard.

Muhammad Asad Khan Niazi, 29, admits killing Charito “Che” Cruz, on September 29 last year, but denies murder, claiming he was suffering from severe depression, the Old Bailey has heard.

Earlier the court heard how Mr Niazi was jealous of Ms Cruz’s contact with an old flame and on the day before she was killed he had been released on police bail after admitting criminal damage to her iPhone.

Ms Cruz had also made an appointment to visit the domestic violence one stop shop and made enquiries about changing the locks, the court heard.

Yesterday the court heard the Philippino care worker had gone to police about Mr Niazi, but did not know he had been released.

Her friend, Maravic Ayala, wept in court as she recalled how she begged her scared friend not to return home where she was later killed.

She said: "I'm begging her to stay at my place because I am really worried about their safety from Asad because she thought Asad was still in jail.

"I kept saying don't go, to stay with me...but she told me 'it's too much already' and saying 'Thankyou'.

"I offered also to be with her in the other place [but] she refused and said they would be fine.

"She was crying and the last word she told me 'if you no longer contact me maybe Asad killed me already.'

"She was really scared."

Ms Cruz was later hit more than 50 times with a hammer by Mr Niazi in front of their two-year-old daughter at their Cambridge Road home.

Earlier the court heard how Mr Niazi had taken an overdose after discovering Ms Cruz appeared to be starting a new relationship with a former boyfriend, a married man in Wales who she met up with in Wimbledon, after exchanging Facebook messages.

The couple had also argued over Ms Cruz’s daughter's eating habits in the lead-up to the killing, the court heard.

Miss Ayala said Ms Cruz would call her in tears after arguments but said when she visited the house her friend would cover up the problems.

She said: "She was upset and wants to cry, she calls me and describes with me and tell me this is happening."

"Misunderstandings" would take place after Che came home from a 14 hour day of work, the court heard.

Miss Ayala said: "She is really tired and when she gets home the house is quite messy, the toys are there, and the laundry is there.

"There was not yet food."

She said: "Che wants Asad to make some effort or make a special meal for their little girl. How come she is just eating chips and nuggets?"

Mr Niazi denies murder on the grounds of the severe depression he was suffering, the court has been told.

The trial continues.