Blackburn Magistrates Court A MAN screamed at his partner that he was capable of murder while he had his hands around her neck. Blackburn magistrates heard Christopher Stephen Smalley told his victim she had provoked him. She told the police she thought she was going to die. Smalley, 30, of Springbank Terrace, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to four charges of assault. He was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison and made subject to a restraining order for five years which prohibits him from having any contact with his former partner. Scott Parker, prosecuting, said the most recent incident was on December 16 when the victim disagreed with something Smalley had said.