A MAN accused of the stabbing murder of another man last year at Kelso said he had acted in self defence, a Supreme Court hearing was told yesterday.
The statement was attributed to Ronnie Phillip Charles Lovett, 22, within hours of him being arrested over the alleged stabbing of George Asprogiannis [also known as Trindall], 27, in Bannerman Crescent on August 10, 2008.
Lovett had been the subject of a police application for a detention warrant before a special court magistrate, Ms Alba, about 3.45am on Monday, August 11.
Bathurst police custody manager Senior Constable Darrin Cuzner had been advised by Detective Sergeant Gerard Powell to make the application.
After Sgt Powell had spoken to Ms Alba, the phone had been handed to Lovett, Const. Cuzner yesterday told Crown prosecutor Peter Barnett SC when giving evidence in the trial of Lovett before Bathurst Supreme Court.
Const. Cuzner told Mr Barnett he heard Lovett tell the magistrate: “It was self defence, kill or be killed.”
After Const. Cuzner gave his evidence Justice Barr adjourned the trial until this morning at Bathurst Court House.
The first police to arrive at the scene of the stabbing told the court they arrested Lovett – the man members of the crowd crowd pointed out as being responsible for a serious assault – soon after 11pm on August 10 last year.
Police called to investigate the alleged stabbing told Mr Barnett about 10 people were crowded outside premises in Bannerman Crescent where a man was on the ground.
Senior Constable Rolph Vogelsang said the crowd was “shouting, yelling and screaming” as he arrived to be informed by ambulance officers at the scene that Mr Asprogiannis was deceased.
Snr Const. Vogelsang said Lovett was wearing a white jacket with a black stripe. There was blood on the jacket and Lovett’s hands, the constable said.
When the constable asked Lovett what happened, he replied: “He just come at me in the dark.”
Lovett had given his name and been warned by the constable, who asked “did you stab him?”
“Nah. He come at me with a knife. It was dark, he come at me with a knife. I couldn’t see,” Lovett said, according to Snr Const. Vogelsang.
When Snr Const. Vogelsang asked Lovett where the knife was, Lovett replied “inside”, repeating “he come at me”.
Snr Const. Vogelsang arrested Lovett for assault when the accused man asked: “Is he all right?” Snr Const. Vogelsang said: “No, he’s dead.”
When Snr Const. Paul Rasmussen arrived, Snr Const. Vogelsang went into 82 Bannerman Crescent, noting a screen door was ajar and a sliding door partly open. He went into the house, finding no light on in the lounge and that the light did not work.
He had a torch and could see blood on the carpet, mattress and lounge, Snr Const. Vogelsang told Mr Barnett.
After checking there was no one else in the house, Snr Const. Vogelsang heard screaming from a woman who appeared hysterical in the company of Snr Const. Rasmussen and Detective Belfanti. He told others to leave the scene and established a taped-off crime scene.
Email a friend
Favourites
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Digg
StumbleUpon
MySpace
Reddit
Newsvine
LinkedIn
Kwoff
Twitter