Murder charge after stabbing death at Welland
Andrew Dowdell, Michael Milnes: The Advertiser | June 27, 2008
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23930509-5006301,00.html
A WELLAND man was acting in “self defence” when he fatally stabbed his mother’s defacto partner with a kitchen knife on Thursday night, the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court has heard.
Lazaros David Hajistassi is charged with the murder of 48-year old James Vincent Farquhar, who died from stab wounds at the Frederick St home at Welland.
The court heard Hajistassi had confronted Mr Farquhar over an ongoing domestic dispute with his mother when the fight broke out just after 11.30pm.
Police prosecutor Grant Watterson said Hajistassi’s mother heard her son “fly off the handle” before emerging from the home soon after.
Hajistassi, 26, allegedly said: “He attacked me, he stabbed me and I think I’ve killed him”, before phoning police and paramedics.
Snr Sgt Watterson said Mr Farquhar was stabbed in the neck, back and side and that the force of the blows bent the knife’s blade at right angles.
Defence lawyer Justin Wickens said Hajistassi had stabbed Mr Farquhar because he was under attack and would plead not guilty to the murder charge.
“He was not the aggressor here, the partner of his mother was the aggressor,” he said.
Hajistassi appeared in court with his head heavily bandaged and a black eye.
He claimed was Mr Farquhar stabbed him in the side of his head and eye-gouged him during the fight.
Mr Wickens said Hajistassi’s mother was supportive of her son and was being cared for by a friend.
Magistrate Stefan Metanomski refused to grant Hajistassi home detention bail.
Neighbour Anna Alexiou told The Advertiser she heard what “sounded like a woman screaming at first”.
I thought someone was having an argument, but I didn’t come outside. My little boy was so frightened by the all of the noise,” she said.
Hajistassi was remanded in custody to face court again in September.
DOCS gave up on murdered children
The Advertiser | June 28, 2008
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23935593-5006301,00.html
THE desperate plight of three children found murdered yesterday by their violent fa ...
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Just days earlier, the children’s father Gary Bell, 44 was released by police on bail after bashing his wife, with the officers notifying the beleaguered department about Jack, 7, Maddie, 5 and Bon, aged just 18 months.
