The estranged wife of a man who was shot dead with a crossbow by her brother has told a jury how she was attacked just before the incident.

Julia Hanson, 44, giving evidence on day one of brother Daniel Schofield's trial at Truro Crown Court, has said her husband Roy Hanson had been choking after her after coming around to her brother's St Keverne home.

She said: "I got up, put a dressing gown on and went to the door. Daniel came with me to open the door.

"I was very nervous and scared. He (Roy) had a very angry look on his face.

"Roy had his hand out and said he wanted the keys for the house, the workshop and the motorhome. I said I still had property in those places so I wouldn't give him the keys.

"He got angry and tried to snatch the bunch off me. I wrestled with him but realised I wouldn't be able to win so I started to take off the keys.

"I think I took three off the key ring before he snatched the ring out of my hand saying he wanted the car keys too.

"I said 'you can not have it as it was my car and I needed it for work.'

"He walked back to his van, trying to get the car key off the bunch, and I tried to snatch it off him.

"I tried to lean in to get my keys but I couldn't so I took the keys from his van so he could not leave.

"He tried to stop me but I turned to run back into the house. I got two steps and he grabbed me by the arm and swung me round.

"It stopped me and then I felt his arm around my neck. He was trying to grab the keys with his left hand.

"He pulled me backwards. I was telling him to let go of me. He was hurting my neck and I was choking a little bit.

"He swung me round and I had both knees on the floor. Then I heard Daniel telling Roy to let me go and to leave.

"That was the first time I saw Daniel. I had a glimpse of him standing. He suddenly let me go and I fell forward.

"By the time he turned around I saw Daniel running down the side of the house and Roy was heading in the same direction.

"He then leant forwards to where the crossbow was on the floor. 

"I thought Roy was doing to pick it up and shot Daniel with it. But he stopped and started walking back towards the van. 

"He seemed to slow down and stagger a bit. He looked confused.

"I did not know what had happened. I saw some blood on his shirt and went towards him to help him."

Julia also told the jury about her estranged husband's violent past and recalled one incident where she had some friends round for dinner.

She said: "Roy and Jerry (a friend) had got into a debate about gay people, when Jerry went out for a cigarette Roy laid into me for not siding with him.

"Jerry stepped in to stop Roy and he got punched in the face."
Julia said that when she left him, he also became violent.

She said: "After I left he got angry. He started shouting at me and waving his arms in my face. I felt intimidated and he said, if you keep flinching I will hit you.

"He was really angry so I tried to pacify him.

"He asked to come around and I told him I only agreed to meet him as I was intimidated. 

"He got upset. He was sobbing and I could not understand him, so I hung up."

Schofield was remanded in custody. The trial, heard by Judge Graham Cottle QC, continues.