MICHAEL BALDWIN told yesterday how he started to dig his stepdaughter Jenna Brookfield's grave with his bare hands, then pleaded with her to "wake up for Des."

The poultry factory worker, 36, who denies murdering 15-year-old Jenna, told the jury at his trial that the ground in the wooded area where he dug Jenna's shallow grave was very soft.

He added: "It was easy to move so most of it was done with my hands and then I used the old shovel."

Mr Murphy asked: "Where did that come from?"

Baldwin, formerly of Limekiln Road, Pontnew-ynydd, said: "In the back of my car."

Baldwin told the Cardiff crown court jury that Jenna (pictured) had turned up at their then home in Abersychan on the day of her death, swore at him and taunted him about his baldness.

He said they argued at the top of the stairs, he "pushed her off" and she fell down.

Baldwin said: "I could feel her going back, I tried to grab her with my hand but I couldn't. She toppled down the stairs.

"I panicked. I didn't know what to do."

He wrapped her up in a quilt, put her in his car and headed for Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny.

But, he said, he realised she was dead by the time he got to a layby near Keeper's Pond. Baldwin said: "I was crying."