A jury has been told how a man accused of murdering a former Brighton security guard was acting aggressively the night he met her.

James Flynn, 34, also known as Paul, admits the manslaughter of Charmian Falkner, 33, but denies her murder.

Lewes Crown Court heard how Miss Falkner, a former guard at the Brighton Centre, had met former colleagues in Brighton on December 21 last year for a Christmas party and became friendly with Flynn, who was a casual worker at the site.

Taxi driver Brian Blunden yesterday told the jury he had picked them up later that night.

He said: "They were arguing about something. The gentleman was raising his voice."

Mr Blunden, a taxi driver in Brighton for 18 years, said at one point the defendant told the driver to turn the intercom off and stop listening to their conversation.

Mr Blunden said: "He was quite aggressive really."

Flynn then shut the glass partition in the taxi and was told he would have to pay for it if he broke it. When the couple got out of the taxi at Dorset Gardens, where Flynn lived, Miss Falkner apologised about the partition incident in a quiet voice.

Mr Blunden told the court: "I felt the man was being a bit horrible to the woman."

He said he waited in his cab for about three to four minutes while the couple argued on the pavement, then drove away.

He said: "He (Flynn) lifted his arms up at some stage. He might have grabbed her arms."

Asked why he did not intervene, Mr Blunden said: "I've done that before and been punched in the mouth for it."

Alan Tadd, a general service assistant at the Brighton Centre for seven years, was at the staff party at the Skyline Restaurant and later went on to the Queensbury Arms pub with his colleagues.

The court heard on Monday how there were concerns for Miss Faulkner.

Mr Tadd said he told Flynn to back off a bit.

Miss Falkner was found dead by her family at Flynn's flat on December 27.

Flynn is alleged to have confessed to a priest while in custody.

He had given himself up to Heathrow police on December 26 on unrelated matters. The case continues.