THE girlfriend of a man allegedly stabbed to death by a cyber-stalker who was infatuated with her has this afternoon told how she discovered his blood-spattered body and fought desperately to keep him alive.

Colin Adwent

THE girlfriend of a man allegedly stabbed to death by a cyber-stalker who was infatuated with her has this afternoon told how she discovered his blood-spattered body and fought desperately to keep him alive.

German David Heiss has denied the “savage” and “sustained” attack on Matthew Pyke, from Stowmarket.

Prosecutor Shaun Smith QC told Nottingham Crown Court this morning how Heiss, 21, of Dauborn, near Limburg in Germany despised the 20-year-old and had a fixation with his girlfriend Joanna Witton.

Mr Pyke was found on September 19 last year in the blood-splattered flat he shared with Miss Witton above the Orange Tree public house in North Sherwood Street, Nottingham.

Miss Witton, who was 20 at the time, and Mr Pyke celebrated three years together just seven days before he was killed.

This afternoon the court heard how, on the day of the incident, Miss Witton got up for work at 6am.

She left the flat they shared at 6.55am saying goodbye to Mr Pyke before getting a lift with one of her friends.

Miss Witton told the jury that as she was leaving Mr Pyke, who was awake, signalled to her that he wanted a hug before she went.

Giving evidence she said: “I said 'see you tonight I love you' and then I left the flat.”

Miss Witton left the flat door unlocked and another door which led to the outside of the building ajar.

The court heard she did not know that Mr Pyke's alleged murderer David Heiss was waiting outside.

Although she stopped momentarily to tie her shoelaces she still did not see the 21-year-old who was said to be laying in wait for her to go.

Miss Witton said during the day she sent a text to Mr Pyke but he did not respond. She then sent further texts and became increasingly worried that there were no answers.

She tried to ring their landline and while getting a lift back home was becoming increasingly worried and kept ringing their flat. She continued to do so while running up to their apartment.

Miss Witton told the jury that she was extremely concerned because it was not like Mr Pyke to leave any calls or texts unanswered.

When she reached the door of their flat she panicked as she saw a speck of blood on the door frame and got in by pressing her shoulder against the door.

Miss Witton said: “I found him, he was wearing his dressing gown and his boxer shorts.”

She said she could see he had been stabbed and rang 999.

Miss Witton then ran to the other three flats on her floor knocking on their doors trying to get someone to help.

One of the occupants returned with her to the flat she shared with Mr Pyke. When she got there Miss Witton tried to resuscitate the man she had hoped to marry.

She told the jury: “While I was doing CPR I heard almost a gurgling coming out of his side.”

Miss Witton said the emergency operator was on the phone as she was trying to revive Mr Pyke.

Miss Witton said: “The operator heard that as well and asked me to look for any further wounds.”

At that point she said she knew Mr Pyke had died.

Mr Pyke's was laying on his back when his body was found between a dining table and desk.

The prosecution alleges that after stabbing Mr Pyke Hiess tried to make it look like a burglary gone wrong. Anniversary cards were thrown across the floor and drawers had been pulled out.

Muss Witton said quite a few of her items had been stolen including a lap top, Nintendo Wii console, various controls to go with the console and several games.

Earlier in her evidence Miss Witton had gone into detail over how Heiss had allegedly stalked her over the internet and had even come to Nottingham on two previous occasions since March 2008.

She said she had become more and more worried about this and it had caused panic attacks for both her and Mr Pyke.

- The trial continues.