"I'm going to kill you. By the end of the week you will be dead."
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Those were the words David Bagster allegedly said to his partner Valmai Jane Birch on the last day she was seen alive, a court has heard.
Lorraine Punter told the jury in Bagster's manslaughter trial in Wollongong District Court on Monday that she clearly recalled those words being said at Wollongong train station nearly 10 years ago.
Ms Birch, 34, was found dead, face down and hog-tied in a council wheelie bin inside her Woods Avenue Woonona unit on March 22 after neighbours reportedly a foul smell to police.
Bagster, 54, has denied the allegation he killed Ms Birch.
Ms Punter said she was friends with Ms Birch and they often saw each other when they went to get their methadone, as part of a drug treatment program, in Wollongong.
She told the jury she saw Ms Birch at Wollongong train station on March 9, 2011 after they had gotten their methadone. Ms Punter said Ms Birch was wearing a brown dress with pink piping that "she loved".
Ms Punter was sitting with her friend outside the platform when she saw Ms Birch, who she described as looking "stressed" and "scared" because she saw Bagster on the platform.
Ms Punter said Ms Birch waked onto the platform before she followed a short time later and heard Ms Birch and Bagster talking inside the men's toilet.
She described Bagster as "screaming".
Ms Punter said she heard him say, "I'm going to kill you. By the end of the week you will be dead" to which Ms Birch said, "don't be so f**king stupid, don't say things like that".
Ms Punter confirmed the words were "very clear" in her mind and she was confident that was exactly what was said.
After Ms Birch left the bathroom, Ms Punter said she asked her if she was "alright" and recalled her saying "do you know anyone who can take money and come stay with me so I'm protected."
Ms Punter told the court she didn't get involved further and got onto the train without Ms Birch.
During cross examination, defence barrister Scott Fraser asked Ms Punter whether she was actually standing outside the toilet when she heard Bagster allegedly threaten Ms Birch.
"That was exactly what he said," Ms Punter said.
She said she was "positive" she was in the area on the platform but conceded it might not have been exactly outside the toilet.
"I suggest that you did not go down and stand outside the toilet on the last day you saw her," Mr Fraser asked.
"You can suggest anything you want, I know what was said," Ms Punter said.
"I suggest Mr Bagster at no time said those words," Mr Fraser said.
"That's a lie, that's a lie," Ms Punter said.
"You have made this up, haven't you?" Mr Fraser pressed.
"No I didn't. I swear by the Lord Jesus Christ that is what came out of his mouth," Ms Punter said.
Mr Fraser went on to ask Ms Punter why Ms Birch didn't get on the train with her.
"There was nothing I could do, I couldn't get into a fight... she wouldn't come home with me, I asked her to, I had to leave her there," Ms Punter said.
Ms Punter also denied the suggestion she bought and gave Ms Birch heroin before they got on the train.
The trial continues.
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