During questioning with police, the man explained that he and his 67-year-old girlfriend had been in a dispute over “something trivial” and hadn’t been speaking to one another for six months, the Norrtelje Tidning newspaper reports.

“Yeah, we haven’t been speaking to one another. It’s a small thing but I’m stubborn and she’s even worse,” the man told police during questioning.

On the morning of May 11th, however, the 81-year-old tried to speak with his girlfriend of nearly 20-years at the kitchen table, but the 67-year-old refused to respond.

The man then fetched an axe and hit the woman on the head.

He then washed off the axe, placed it back in his garage, and called emergency services.

His girlfriend later died from her injuries.

The 81-year-old has confessed to the crime and is currently undergoing a psychiatric evaluation which is expected to be completed on Friday.

The man’s trial is set to start next Tuesday.