Petero Baleinapuka, 58, was drunk when he led police on a high-speed pursuit before crashing into a bridge in the early hours of January 1, 2020, several officers told the Wollongong Supreme Court on Tuesday.
"I killed her, I didn't mean to hurt her, I loved her," the court heard Baleinapuka said at the time, in between "wailing".
"Why did she make me do that."
Baleinapuka has denied stabbing Angela O'Donnell, 53, at least a dozen times in her Woonona apartment on the NSW south coast on December 31, 2019.
He is standing trial for murder and also denies the alleged confessions heard in evidence.
His partner's final cries were captured on New Year's Eve about 10.38pm on CCTV footage outside her apartment, crown prosecutor David Scully said in his opening address.
"Petero Petero, look at me," followed by her screaming "Oh my god," and some swear words, the jury has been told they will hear in evidence.
Ms O'Donnell had been communicating with family and friends that day up until her final message received by her brother at about 10.14pm.
"Yay Woonona," she responded to photographs he sent of their time together in her local area.
The couple's movements that day before the alleged murder were "unremarkable", Mr Scully said.
That morning they visited Ms O'Donnell's aunt in Thirroul and shopped at their local Liquorland which they usually frequented up to three times a week.
About 8pm they walked together to the Bulli surf lifesaving club for a drink, and later entered the Beaches Hotel in Thirroul at 9.20pm.
Minutes afterwards they left for home together in an Uber.
Just before midnight, Detective Senior Constable Dylan Liackman spotted Baleinapuka driving a BMW "very erratically".
The driver appeared "nervous and fidgety" as the police officer approached before speeding away, Det Sen Const Liackman told the court.
After Baleinapuka fled the scene he lost control and crashed the car into a bridge.
The car was later found to belong to his dead partner, while he was also in possession of her Westpac bank card, the court was told.
Baleinapuka allegedly said his girlfriend had thrown a Christmas ornament that struck his left eye, and when he tried to later hug her on the couch she punched him in the face, before he stabbed her "three times".
He also explained there was another man in the house who soon disappeared, but the Crown has dismissed this as a lie.
In the "ferocity of the attack" the knife slipped and cut Baleinapuka's hand, causing his blood along with the victim's to be found throughout the apartment, Mr Scully said.
Baleinapuka and Ms O'Donnell had met in October, and had only been living together in her apartment for one month before her death.
Defence lawyer Philip Young SC asked the jury to keep an open mind, and that his client had not made many of the alleged confessions to the killing.
"He denies Angela O'Donnell died at his hand. He will deny being responsible for the injuries that led to her death," Mr Young said.
The trial continues.
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