‘Oh s--t': Cop's reaction as woman's body found
Partially paralysed, Mark Ludbrook, 53, appeared in the Victorian Supreme Court on Monday using a motorised wheelchair as his trial over the death of Autumn Baker began.
He has pleaded not guilty to murder, with his defence barrister Emily Clark telling the jury Mr Ludbrook was not acting consciously, voluntarily or deliberately when he caused her death.
Outlining the prosecution case, crown prosecutor Jim Shaw said it was alleged Mr Ludbrook murdered Ms Baker by stabbing her twice in the chest with a steak knife in the afternoon of August 3, 2023.
He told the court it was the crown's case the pair were friends, with Ms Baker arriving at his Hoppers Crossing home about 12.55pm for an unannounced social visit. Mark Ludbrook allegedly killed Autumn Baker with a steak knife. NewsWire/Ian Currie Credit: News Corp Australia
But Mr Shaw said he expects Mr Ludbrook's carer, Amber Davidson, to give evidence he was acting 'irrationally' and 'strangely' from earlier that morning.
He told the court Mr Ludbrook had been diagnosed the year prior with a rare neurological condition affecting the spine, transverse myelitis, leaving him mostly wheelchair-bound and in need of carers.
'He needed them because he could only walk a few steps at a time,' the prosecutor said.
Mr Shaw alleged Mr Ludbrook had turned to the illicit drugs ketamine and eticyclidine, or PCE, to manage his chronic pain and had taken PCE earlier that day.
Mr Shaw said he expects Ms Davidson will give evidence she watched Mr Ludbook undress, walk naked through the house and into the backyard 'where he continued to behave irrationally'.
'Ms Davidson was concerned; she took a couple of short videos of him standing in the backyard naked and saying strange things,' he told the jury. The incident allegedly unfolded at Mr Ludbrook's Hoppers Crossing home. Picture NewsWire / Aaron Francis Credit: NCA NewsWire
A short time after Ms Baker arrived, Mr Shaw said it was alleged Mr Ludbrook took a steak knife from the kitchen draw and walk back to his bedroom.
He said Ms Davidson followed out of concern, and found the accused man lying, still naked, 'poking himself in the stomach'.
The jury was told the two women attempted to stop Mr Ludbook and Ms Davidson stepped out to call triple-0, only to hear Ms Baker scream.
Mr Shaw said she re-entered the bedroom to allegedly find Mr Ludbrook standing over Ms Baker and was chased out of the room.
Three minutes of body worn footage played to the jury captured the moment a police officer searching the home found Ms Baker lying on the floor covered with blood.
'Oh s--t,' the officer could be heard exclaiming.
'She's not conscious, not breathing… she was stabbed in the chest.'
The jury was told Mr Ludbrook was restrained and sedated in the backyard and was taken to hospital with self-inflicted knife wounds. Mr Ludbrook has pleaded not guilty. NewsWire / Nadir Kinani Credit: News Corp Australia
In response, Ms Clark described what happened to Ms Baker as a 'terrible, terrible tragedy' and said Mr Ludbrook agreed he was the one that caused her death.
She said the defence did not dispute that Mr Ludbrook had taken PCE earlier that day, was behaving strangely and saying bizarre things, and that there was a background of arguments and disagreements in his friendship with Ms Baker.
'What's not agreed is that Mr Ludbrook intended to cause harm to Autumn Baker,' the defence barrister said.
'What's not agreed that when he caused her harm he was in control of his actions; in a right mind.'
Ms Clark said the defence would be calling two expert witnesses, a forensic psychiatrist and an anesthetist, to give opinions on Mr Ludbrook's state of mind.
'Mr Ludbrook does not agree he was acting in a conscious, voluntary and deliberate way when he caused the death of Ms Baker,' she said.
'What is in issue in this trial is the state of mind of Mark Ludbrook… Or was he so affected by PCE he was incapable.'
The trial continues.
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