Police officers noticed a large pool of blood on the ground when they arrived at a north Canberra home where a daughter allegedly bludgeoned her mother to death, a jury has heard.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The trial of Gabrielle Woutersz, 25, on Tuesday heard evidence from multiple police officers called to the Dunlop home where Norma Cheryl Woutersz, 56, was found dead in October 2014.
The Crown alleges Woutersz fatally struck her mother in the head with a hammer before trying to bury her body in a garden bed.
Her father arrived home to find his wife's body in the backyard. Woutersz was arrested and later pleaded not guilty to murder.
Prosecutors are arguing Woutersz's altered state of mind when she attacked was caused by extensive drug use, while her defence team, which is not disputing the killing, says she was mentally ill at the time and should not be held morally responsible.
Leading Senior Constable Peter Bradbury told the jury he had arrived to find the defendant's father, Keith Woutersz, at the door when he was called to the Dexion Place home for a welfare check the night of October 17.
"Quick, quick, come," Mr Woutersz had said. "It's my wife, it's my wife."
Mr Woutersz had led him to where his wife's body lay in the backyard.
Senior Constable Bradbury told the court he had noticed a pool of blood, more than 60 centimetres in diameter, near the back door, with what appeared to be broom marks through it.
A broom was against a nearby wall and drag marks led from the pool of blood to the back of the house where the victim's body lay, he said.
He said he found the accused in a bedroom, wearing only underwear and with a sleeping eye mask pushed up on her forehead, before he told her to get dressed.
Senior Constable Anna Swain gave evidence that she had read Norma Cheryl Woutersz's full name out when charging the accused with murder in the ACT Watch House. The accused responded with the words: "My mum".
Later, Gabrielle Woutersz's teenage cousin gave evidence that the accused had told her she was upset about the impact drugs were having on her life in an "emotional" conversation months before the killing.
The trial continues in the ACT Supreme Court.
