ARMED police used a taser gun to end a three-hour siege and capture a man alleged to have murdered his girlfriend, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Officers with firearms, specialist negotiators and a dog unit were called in after a desperate 999 call reported banging and crashing sounds, a man shouting and a woman’s terrified screams.

As the drama unfolded early yesterday morning in Payne’s Road, Freemantle, neighbours told how Steven Waters, 54, was brandishing a knife as he hurled items from a window and set fire to the curtains of the flat.

When police managed to get inside the flat in four-storey Napier House they found Anita Bawtree, 34, dead. She had been stabbed repeatedly.

Last night Waters was being quizzed by detectives at Lyndhurst police station, having been arrested on suspicion of murder.

A post-mortem was being carried out to determine the exact injuries which caused the death of Ms Bawtree.

Witnesses told how they heard banging, shouting and swearing coming from the flat where Waters and Ms Bawtree lived together.

Several claimed they saw Waters waving a knife and heard him make threats to slash the gas supply and injure people.

As police put a cordon in place, residents were evacuated from their homes.

A man, who lives near the couple, said he heard a woman scream “please, please, please” and then a thud before there was silence.

He told the Daily Echo: “It was chaos. I could hear them arguing and it was getting worse so I called the police.

“They were there for hours trying to talk to him and I could see him throwing stuff down near the cars below.

“He had set fire to the curtains and the firemen were aiming their hoses at the window and the water was running down the walls.

“The team of negotiators kept asking if he was OK and said they needed to see if his partner was OK. They kept trying to get through to him.

“Then I saw riot police charge in with tasers and batons.”

Others told how they saw Waters leaning out the window and shouting: “My partner is dead, please help me.”

In the entrance to the car park of the property, a metal-lic blue Ford Focus believed to belong to Waters was seen parked crookedly and with the lights left on.

Waiter Thierno Bah, 30, who lives at the flats, said: “I came home at about 11pm but couldn’t get in the car park because Steve’s car blocked my way.

“I parked a little way off and went out. I was coming in at about 2am when I heard screaming but I thought it must just be a fight outside, which happens sometimes, but when I looked out I could see about 15 police cars, a fire engine and an ambulance.”

The car was removed by police on the back of a tow truck yesterday morning to be taken for forensic testing.

Caterer Faye Wilson, 20, who lives below the couple’s flat, said she had heard strange noises coming from their property around midnight, but knew nothing of the tragedy until she woke in the morning.

“It is shocking. I had spoken to the couple briefly and they seemed normal, you don’t expect this kind of thing to happen in the building you live in.”

Throughout yesterday officers stood guard as detectives and forensic officers made enquiries and evidence bags were removed from the flat.

House to house enquiries were also being carried out to piece together what had unfolded inside the property while officers stood guard at the entrance to the flats.

Last night police reassured residents that nobody else was being sought in connection with the murder.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Fitchet said: “Local residents should be aware that officers will be patrolling in the area should they have any concerns.”

A spokesman added: “Hampshire Constabulary can confirm that specially trained officers were deployed to Napier House, Payne’s Road, Southampton, where a man had been seen at an open window, holding a knife and making threats.

“During attempts to detain the man a taser was discharged.”

Police are expected to release the details of the post mortem examination later today.

Location of the alleged murder in Paynes Road