Aaron Matthew Monaco was lying on a neighbour’s doorstep “soaked in blood” when he told police and a witness he thought he was going to die, a jury heard.
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Belinda Leone Colbran, of Ravenswood, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Monaco.
The 41-year-old was found with several stab wounds at Parua Road, Newnham on November 4, 2016.
Mr Monaco was taken to the Launceston General Hospital on November 4, but he was declared dead by doctors at 10.40pm.
On the second day of the Launceston Supreme Court trial, Crown Prosecutor John Ransom told the jury police officers who attended the scene spoke to Mr Monaco while he was conscious.
As the officer’s were applying first aid they asked Mr Monaco who stabbed him and he responded “Nathan Smith”, a court heard.
Although two people are named in the indictment, Mr Ransom told the jury they could “cross out Nathan Smith because this trial is not about him”.
The trial is about Ms Colbran, and Mr Ransom said she made an “unequivocal admission” in an interview with police to stabbing Mr Monaco multiple times.
Ms Colbran was taken to the police station about 9am on November 5, but Mr Ransom said she was unable to be interviewed until 7.30pm because she was too intoxicated. In the interview, the accused allegedly said Mr Monaco had no regard for Mr Smith’s property and did not pay rent.
Ms Colbran told police she got Mr Monaco “a couple of times in the back”, Mr Ransom told the court.
The court heard Mr Monaco was stabbed five times, including the alleged fatal wound to his right upper-back. But defence lawyer Todd Kovacic told the jury to “keep an open mind” while watching his client’s police interview.
“The issue of this trial is who stabbed Mr Monaco,” he said.
Mr Kovacic told the jury his client was present, but had no role in the alleged murder. Justice Gregory Geason adjourned the trial until Monday.