Latest news with #AnthonyEriksen
ABC News
2 days ago
- ABC News
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.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Woman fatally stabbed minutes after dog walk, jury told
After returning from an evening walk with her two schnauzer dogs, Lisa Fenwick stepped inside her home and was stabbed to death by her partner, a jury has heard. Anthony Eriksen's Supreme Court trial began on Tuesday after he pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Fenwick in their Sydney apartment in April 2023. The jury was told arriving police and paramedics found Eriksen in the unit's hallway wearing a bathrobe, with dried up blood on his face, wrist and right foot. Ms Fenwick was seen lying in her own blood. She had been repeatedly stabbed in her heart and lungs, crown prosecutor Daniel Boyle said. "He did it to her deliberately and did it with an intent to kill her," he said in his opening address. The alleged weapon, a kitchen knife, was found in the sink with "slightly watery" blood dripping from the blade, Mr Boyle said. The couple allegedly got into an argument after Ms Fenwick sent Eriksen a text message about 3.30pm with a link to house-sharing website The message read "not sure they'd want a 60-year-old man though!" the jury was told. Ms Fenwick was insistent that Eriksen needed to move out after financially supporting him for several years while he was unemployed, Mr Boyle said. Eriksen allegedly told police at the scene of the fatal incident that he had consumed a "couple of drinks" of red wine during the afternoon. "Living life is so stressful ... she just criticises me all the time," he allegedly told police. "I don't know - it just happened." Eriksen, who is self-represented, chose not to provide an opening statement, which Justice Andrew Coleman said should not prejudice the jury's view of the accused murderer. The judge also cautioned jury members to be objective in their assessment of the facts laid out before them. "You might also see he is wearing his green clothes, don't draw any adverse inference ... (or) speculate as to why," Justice Coleman said. "It's really irrelevant. "Don't go home and start googling ... facts about the case." Ms Fenwick had earlier expressed grave fears for her safety, confiding to two close friends. "I don't feel safe with him," she texted to one friend. A month later, she was dead. The trial resumes on Wednesday. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
