Oral Bryan denies murdering his ex-partner and the mother of two of his children , Nicola McKenzie , ( pictured ) with a hockey stick during a row last year . A father-of-five murdered his ex-partner in front of their children by hitting her across the head with a hockey stick 'like an axe ' , a court has heard . Nicola McKenzie , 37 , was allegedly killed by her ex-partner Oral Bryan during a row in the street on September 17 last year . She suffered serious head injuries after he swung the hockey stick 'like an axe ' and hit her with 'severe force ' - she died two days later . Bryan , 44 , of Moss Side , Manchester , denies murder and told police he acted in self-defence . Manchester Crown Court heard yesterday that the fatal incident took place after Ms McKenzie turned up at Mr Bryan 's home , where she was allegedly 'abusive and aggressive ' to another woman with whom he had three children . All five children were present when 'devoted mother ' Ms McKenzie was knocked unconscious by Bryan . Opening the case , prosecutor Mark Kellet described how in the moments before she was hit , a passing postman heard Ms McKenzie say to Bryan : 'These are your kids , go on , show them what you 're like . ' The court heard Bryan then turned around and walked back to his house before returning with the hockey stick . Mr Kellet said : 'The witness could hear the lady who must be Nicola shouting , `` go on , hit me , I want you to hit me . '' 'That 's exactly what the defendant did , striking a single blow across the head , causing her to fall to the floor on the road . ' Following his arrest , Bryan told police ' I did n't mean to hurt her ' . He said that Ms McKenzie attacked him with a knife and that he struck the fatal blow accidentally as he tried to disarm her with the hockey stick . But Mr Kellet said no knife was recovered from the scene and that none of the witnesses saw one . Mr Kellet told the jury : 'You will be sure that rather than jabbing or flicking at Nicola to disarm her , Nicola was n't in possession of a knife and there wasn't a jab or flick - this was a hockey stick raised , brought down with severe force , knocking her unconscious . Ms McKenzie was knocked unconscious by Bryan in front of their daughter Teja and son Amahri ( pictured ) 'The location , the nature of the laceration , swelling , bleeding , bruising and nerve damage to the brain is all consistent with a blow of severe force , as described by all the witnesses . 'This was an unlawful assault striking a violent blow and at the time of striking this blow the defendant must have intended to cause at the very least really serious harm . 'Consequently , the Crown say having heard the evidence you will be sure the defendant is guilty of murder . ' Following her death last year daughter Teja and son Amahri described Ms McKenzie as a 'devoted mother ' . The case continues . The incident occurred on this quiet residential street in Moss Side , Manchester on September 14 , 2014 . Manchester Crown Court ( pictured ) heard the fatal incident took place after Ms McKenzie turned up at Mr Bryan 's home where she was 'abusive and aggressive ' to another woman with whom he had three children . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .
Oral Bryan , days later , denies murdering his ex-partner Nicola McKenzie , 37 . He 's accused of hitting her across the head with a hockey stick 'like an axe ' Ms McKenzie was knocked unconscious by the blow and died 44 . Father-of-five told police he was acting in self-defence as she 'had a knife ' Manchester Crown Court heard incident took place in front of their children .