A Nigerian has admitted to a court in London that he killed his petite partner after she fell on a six-inch blade in her handbag.

Southwark Crown Court heard how Oluwaseyi Dada, 21, knifed 17-year old Katrina Makunova during a row at a block of flats in Camberwell, south east London.

According to reports, Dada, who stands at 6ft 3in, was struggling with his 5ft 4in girlfriend when she fell on the handbag, causing the knife to pierce the bag and stab her through the chest.

Police and paramedics were called to the scene to find Dada performing CPR on the victim.

When police ushered him away he said:

“I grabbed her and pulled her to the floor.”

Dada told cops he feared she was about to attack.

Brett Weaver, prosecuting, said there was a “background of animosity” in the relationship. He added that the couple “made threats and insulted each other via social media”.

Dada told police he thought Ms Makunova was about to attack him and she fell to the floor when he grabbed her handbag.

“He then told them the deceased fell onto the 17cm blade,” the prosecutor said.

“She then said: ‘What the hell are you doing with a knife’.”

Dada admitted manslaughter and will return for sentence on January 29.