Melissa Richmond warned lover before husband killed her, court hears

Melissa Richmond warned "I'm dead" if her Canadian soldier husband ever found out she was having an affair, her lover testified Thursday.

• IN DEPTH |Howard Richmond trial coverage

Richmond's body was found in a deep ditchnear South Keys Shopping Centre in July 2013, days after her husband reported her missing.

Howard Richmond,52, admitted he stabbedhis28-year-old wife to death in July 2013 but pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder at the outset of his trial three weeks ago.

His lawyers have argued he is not criminally responsible because he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, after servingsix tours of duty.

The Crown has argued that the Richmonds' marriage had been deteriorating for several months and that Melissa Richmond was considering leaving her husband.

On ThursdayJeffrey Thorntontestified he and his wife met the Richmondsthrough a medieval club calledtheSociety for Creative Anachronism.

Thornton said that his affair withMelissa Richmond started with a strong emotional bond that led to the pairtexting each other for hours every day.He said heand Melissa talked openlyabout the troubles in their respective marriages.

'Very serious' about fears

A month before she was killed, he said the pair had sex while on a couples'vacationswith their respective spouses inAtlanta.

"I was feeling starved and there wasn't much connection with my wife," he said.

Thornton said he and Melissa hugged and kissed when their spouses were out of the room. They held hands under a blanket in the backseat of a car while their spouses were in the front, he said.

"We were acting like stupid teenagers," he said.

Thorntontestified she told him repeatedly to never tell anyone about their affair. She was "very serious" when she told him that her husband would kill her for cheating and that her body would never be found.

"She wasn't joking," Thornton said.

Thornton said he only admitted the affair to his wife after Melissa disappeared.

The trial continues Friday.