Caroll Hopkinson killed husband Simon in ‘tragic’ act of self defence at Taperoo, court hears
The wife who allegedly murdered her husband inside their Taperoo home killed him in a tragic act of “self-defence” after a shocking late-night discovery, a court has heard.
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The wife of a man who was attempting to take his own life “ended the life of her own husband in an act of defence”, after he turned on her in what has been described as “tragic, unusual circumstances,” a court has heard.
Appearing in the Adelaide Magistrates Court via video link from custody, Caroll Hopkinson, 58, cried quietly as her defence lawyer revealed the events leading up to her husband’s alleged murder in their Taperoo home earlier this month.
Ms Hopkinson, a mental health nurse, mother and grandmother, has been charged with murder after calling emergency services to the home she shared with her husband Simon on the morning of July 7.
Jeff Powell, for Ms Hopkinson, on Tuesday afternoon told the court his client had woken up to a strange noise coming from the bathroom on the morning of the incident.
“Ms Hopkinson woke to sounds in her house and when she investigated, she found her husband attempting suicide,” Mr Powell said.
He said Ms Hopkinson panicked and rushed to retrieve a knife to help her husband, but Mr Hopkinson then turned on her.
“She understood his reaction to be ‘why are you stopping me from something that I need to do’, that is how she interpreted his reaction,” he said.
“His reaction was aggressive, and a conflict occurred between them. He took the knife from her and assaulted her. She had cuts on her hands from trying to defend herself. There was a struggle, and then she took the knife back.
“In a desperate moment, when he lunged at her again, he was stabbed. She was in fear, she says, for her life.”
Neighbours on Medina St in Taperoo were left in shock as news of Mr Hopkinson’s death was revealed, telling The Advertiser the two seemed like “normal, happy people”.
The Advertiser understands Simon was also a mental health nurse at the time of his death.
Caroll, 58, was seen dressed in a blue nightgown with what police will allege were bloodlike stains on her arms, as officers escorted her away from the alleged crime scene.
The court heard that when police arrived at the property, Mr Hopkinson was found slumped over a barrier in the home, with zip ties around his neck.
“It happened in a matter of moments, in a panic, early in the morning and there was no premeditation or planning about it. She had no idea what was happening in her household when she got up,” Mr Powell told the court.
“Her first reaction was to call her daughter, and then immediately called police who arrived about 20 minutes later.
“It’s a tragic circumstance and Ms Hopkinson is in the unfortunate position of having ended the life of her own husband in an act of defence.”
Mr Powell asked the court to release his client on bail, noting the “unusual” features of the case meant she was not a danger to the community.
Prosecutors, however, argued the seriousness of the charge should keep Ms Hopkinson in custody.
Chief Magistrate Mary-Louise Hribal ordered a home detention report, and will make a decision on bail next month.
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