Woolomin woman to face murder trial

Lacy Lee Jukes, 20, formerly of a Gill St address, appeared in Tamworth Local Court yesterday for a committal hearing on charges of murder, maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm and being armed with intent.

The charge of murder against Jukes was reduced to manslaughter and the armed with intent charge dropped after submissions by the defendant's solicitor, John Stratton, and Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) prosecutor, John Stanthorpe.

Dressed in a long maroon skirt, black jacket and with sunglasses on her head, Jukes sat quietly, wiping her eyes with a tissue as her solicitor and the prosecutor handed down their submissions.

Jukes spoke only twice to answer Magistrate Mal MacPherson.

Jukes was arrested on Saturday, September 13, 2003 after police responded to her triple-O call from a house neighbouring her mother's home on the Nundle Rd in the village of Woolomin. Police found the body of a 35-year-old man, Mark Tepeanapene Hati, who had died after suffering a single stab wound under the left armpit.

The deceased had been involved in a relationship with the defendant's mother and was living at the house along with the accused and her three children, aged eight months to four years.

In handing down his submission Mr Stratton told the court Ms Jukes acted voluntarily when she stabbed Mr Hati.

He said there was no admission on triple-O recordings to suggest Ms Jukes stabbed Mr Hati in any way other than voluntarily. He said Ms Jukes could be heard on the recordings telling the operator that she "thought he was going to hit me, so I grabbed the knife".

DPP prosecutor Stanthorpe questioned statements given to police by the defendant's mother Tracy Nelson about the version of events leading up to and during the attack.

Magistrate McPherson was satisfied with the submissions and evidence to commit the matter for trial at Tamworth District Court at a date to be fixed.

Jukes had her bail continued.