An Archibald Prize finalist on trial for murder said that when she and her sons arrived home and could not find her mother-in-law they laughed about how she was probably already walking to her new unit, a jury has been told.
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Melissa Beowulf allegedly said that shortly afterwards they found Katherine Panin, 82, dead at the back stairs, having tripped and fallen.
But the Crown contends the woman's death was not an accident, and that instead Mrs Beowulf, 61, and her sons Thorsten, 32, and Bjorn, 31, murdered Mrs Panin.
It is alleged Mrs Panin was struck to the head and either left there to die or smothered, and that the three accused later arranged her body at the foot of the back stairs.
All three have pleaded not guilty to murder.
Mrs Panin died on October 12, 2015, a day she had been excited about because it was the day she was due to move out of the home she shared with her family at Red Hill and into a unit in Deakin.
On Wednesday, the ACT Supreme Court heard how Dianne McGowan, Mrs Beowulf's late husband's partner who also lived at the Red Hill home, arrived at the scene that evening after work.
Mrs Beowulf said she and her sons had gone out for lunch that day when they had a call from removalists, who were already at Mrs Panin’s new unit in Deakin, Dr McGowan said.
Mrs Beowulf told her they returned home from lunch to help Mrs Panin but couldn’t find her, and they had laughed about how she had probably already started walking to Deakin, Dr McGowan said.
The court has heard evidence Mrs Panin did not get along with Mrs Beowulf nor did she like living at Red Hill, and that she was excited to be moving out.
Dr McGowan told the jury Mrs Beowulf said they then found Mrs Panin at the bottom of the back stairs.
Mrs Beowulf said Mrs Panin had tripped and fallen, the jury was told.
Dr McGowan faced a fourth day on the stand on Wednesday and a second being cross-examined by defence barrister Ken Archer.
Also on Wednesday she agreed under defence questioning that she had nicknamed Mrs Panin "the toddler".
She said that was because Mrs Panin could be at times difficult and frustrating, though also loving and caring.
"She was a pain?" Mr Archer said.
"She could be difficult, yes," Dr McGowan said.
The court has also heard how when Mrs Panin heard her son was close to death she told Dr McGowan: "That's good I hope he suffers more, he stole my money."
Dr McGowan said that upset her, and that she told Mrs Panin that she would get her own comeuppance, and left the home.
The trial continues.
