A SEAFOOD stall boss claimed that he was stabbed by his China lover with the same knife he had given her.

Taking the stand at his murder trial on Monday morning, Eu Lim Hoklai, 54, said that he was merely defending himself when he killed Madam Yu Hongjin.

The 30-year-old Chinese national was found strangled to death in her massage parlour in Ang Mo Kio on June 18, 2006. She also had two stab wounds.

Eu, who himself sustained nine stab wounds, said that he bought jewellery, air-tickets and clothes after he met her in March or April 2005. He estimated that he had spent $10,000 to $20,000 on her.

He also invested $8,500 to set up her massage parlour but their relationship soured when he saw a man leaving her flat, which is above her shop in June 2006.

When he wanted to break up with her, he said she wanted a further $30,000 as 'separation fee'. He did not have the money and they quarrelled often over this.

When he went to see her on June 18, which was Fathers' Day, she slapped him several times.

Whe he tried to leave the shop, she stabbed him and he fought back.

He said that Madam Yu could have received her wounds in the struggle and admitted to strangling her so that she would pass out and he could escape.

When she became motionless, he tried to flee but passed out.

Eu also said that his younger daughter had called him to remind him of Father's day lunch while he was struggling with Madam Yu and he asked his daughter to get help.

As Eu had given different versions on the call in his testimony and his police statements, Justice Kan Ting Chiu asked for the telephone records, which Deputy Public Prosecutor Winston Cheng said that they would get.

The trial continues on Monday afternoon.

On Tuesday, a replica of a cubicle in the massage parlour will be set up in the courtroom so that DPP Cheng can cross-examine Eu on the events that leading to Madam Yu's death.