The Supreme Court at Wangaratta has heard a man who stabbed a woman to death at a regional caravan park in December 2021 felt she no longer loved him.
Warning: This story contains graphic content that may disturb some readers.
Ricky John Williams, 44, pleaded guilty to murder, having stabbed 40-year-old Carmen Niklaus three times in the chest and stomach.
The court on Tuesday heard Ms Niklaus had caught a taxi to the Everton caravan park, where Williams was living at the time, despite a court-ordered apprehended violence order in place that prevented the pair from communicating.
It heard they had an "on again, off again" relationship for about 18 months prior to the incident and that Ms Niklaus, who was an ice user, would often contact Williams during times of need.
At some stage, during the evening, Ms Niklaus, who was drug affected at the time, told Williams she wanted to leave.
Williams became angry because he felt she was using him for money, took the knife and stabbed her.
He told police after the incident "I lost my s***. Too many f****** lies. She wasn't there to be with me".
"She doesn't love me. It was all just lies."
"The word lie just went through my head and I've grabbed [the knife] spun and bang," he said.
The court heard he made several phone calls after the stabbing but none were to triple-0.
He told the caravan caretakers what he did, who offered first aid when they found Ms Niklaus naked in the cabin in a pool of her own blood, still alive.
Paramedics were called and arrived but Ms Niklaus succumbed to her injuries.
'Vulnerable and defenceless'
Prosecution lawyer Jordan Johnston said Ms Niklaus was vulnerable, drug affected and defenceless at the time of the stabbing.
"He said he was angry at the fact that he spent $50 on a taxi for her to see him and she wanted to leave," he said.
"He has become frustrated with their relationship over a period of time.
"He has perceived that Ms Niklaus lied to him and she was saying that she was going to leave."
Defence lawyer Diana Price said Williams had an acquired brain injury from an incident when he was a teenager that had left him unable to maturely reflect and consider before responding to a situation.
She said the injury had resulted in impulsive, reactive and unfiltered behaviour.
The court heard Williams was receiving support from several organisations as he experienced periods of homelessness or unstable housing.
He had obtained a private rental in Myrtleford but could not afford repayments and went into rental arrears before he secured accommodation at the caravan park.
The court heard he had been told new owners of the caravan park wouldn't renew his lease because he did not have a COVID vaccination.
Ms Price said Williams had also been told that his case worker would no longer be working with him, which had caused him a great deal of stress.
Family impact
Ms Niklaus' brother, Chris, said in a victim impact statement he vividly remembered the shock and emotion he felt after learning of his sister's death.
"I got off the phone fell to the floor and broke down. I was a mess," he said.
"It plays on my mind, I wonder what she must have been thinking and feeling.
"There was no one there who loved her."
He said no one deserved to die alone or in such a violent way.
"The grief has been overwhelming for us all," he said.
Ms Price said Williams accepted complete responsibility for causing the death of Ms Niklaus and he had shown immediate and genuine remorse.
In a letter submitted to the court, Williams said he felt great sadness and overwhelming guilt for his actions.
"I can not even begin to comprehend the hurt, pain and heartbreak I have put Carmen's friends and family through," he said.
"With me, she was a good person off the ice. She cooked me some good mash potato," he had earlier told police.
"She didn't deserve this she was meant to be helped, not dead," he said.
The matter has been reserved for sentencing at a later date.
