Final text of Sydney woman stabbed to death read to court in first day of murder trial
A man who allegedly told a triple-0 operator he "put a knife in" his partner before she was found dead has pleaded not guilty to murder, and declined to give an opening address in his trial at which he is defending himself.
Anthony Eriksen is accused of stabbing his long-term de facto partner Lisa Fenwick to death on April 9, 2023 at their unit in Sydney's south.
The Crown prosecutor said Ms Fenwick's body was found in their Mascot bedroom with 18 stab wounds.
Ms Fenwick was already dead when paramedics arrived at 6:15 pm, just 11 minutes after a triple-0 call made by Mr Eriksen.
Police allegedly found Mr Eriksen with her blood on his wrist and right foot.
The Crown's evidence includes CCTV footage proving they were the only two people in the unit at the time of death, and recordings of the triple-0 call made by Mr Eriksen.
Mr Eriksen allegedly said to the emergency operator "we've got in an argument" and "I put a knife in her".
When asked by the operator where he stabbed her, he allegedly said "just the upper the chest".
"You've done more than one wound?", the emergency operator asked.
"I don't know, three or something, I don't know," he allegedly replied.
The Crown said an autopsy on Ms Fenwick's body revealed there were at least four sharp defects to the heart and four sharp defects to the aorta.
The court also heard Ms Fenwick had three sharp defects to the right lung — one of the wounds going completely through the lung — a cut to the oesophagus, three sharp force injuries to the liver and damage to the main vein to and from the heart.
Mr Eriksen, who maintains his innocence, is exercising his right to represent himself in the trial before the Supreme Court.
The 62-year-old chose not to say a word to the jury on Tuesday.
The former NSW government employee appeared in court in green prison clothing.
Justice Andrew Coleman advised the jury to not "draw any adverse inference" from his appearance, his standing in court or the fact he declined to speak.
The trial is expected to last up to 20 days and the Crown will present 50 witnesses including police officers, forensic specialists, Ms Fenwick's mental health counsellor, and her family and friends who will testify she was afraid of Mr Eriksen.
The Crown revealed a text sent from Ms Fenwick to her friend Michelle Roberts.
"If anything happens to me, believe I am of sound mind. I am fearful of Tony," the message read.
"That is why I am telling you this, I just need to have a record if something happens to me."
Another text message to her friend Robert Srjararian read: "Please keep in touch Rob as Tony is acting quite strangely after I told him about my interview today….I don't feel safe with him."
The Crown told the jury it believes Ms Fenwick and Mr Eriksen's relationship had been deteriorating for years due to his unemployment and relying on her for financial support.
It will allege when Ms Fenwick was made redundant in December 2022, it put further financial stress on her and the relationship.
Evidence from her counsellor and a recorded call made by Mr Eriksen to MensLine Australia will show Ms Fenwick wanted him to move out and was actively looking for another place to live.
Hours before the alleged murder, Ms Fenwick sent a text to Mr Eriksen with a link to a posting on a house sharing website that read, "Not sure if they will want a 60-year-old man though".
The trial will resume on Wednesday where the first witness will give evidence.
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