Murder trial told of gurgling sounds and victim's blue face
A WOMAN who has admitted murdering a couple has broken down in court describing in graphic detail their last moments alive and how they were killed.
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A WOMAN who has admitted murdering a couple has broken down as she told a judge how an accomplice had brutally killed them.
Giving evidence in the NSW Supreme Court today, Kim Leanne Snibson said Stacey Lea-Caton had pulled on rope around the neck of Gregory Hosa.
She cried as she described the "gurgling sounds" made by Mr Hosa.
Snibson said Lea-Caton had also told her that when she was out of the house he had had to tape up the head of Mr Hosa's wife, Kathryn McKay, until she turned blue.
She said the couple were at a house in Nowra Hill, after Ms McKay had been told that Snibson had been having an affair with Mr Hosa.
The 37-year-old has pleaded guilty to murdering Mr Hosa, 56, and Ms McKay 44, in January 2006.
The bodies of the couple, who ran a horse stud, were found burning in metal drums in the Tomerong State Forest, south of Nowra, on the NSW south coast.
Justice Terence Buddin adjourned the sentencing hearing for five minutes to allow Snibson to compose herself.
Lea-Caton, 29, was sentenced in November last year to a minimum prison sentence of 16-and-a-half years and a maximum of 22 years for his part in the murders.
Earlier this week he gave evidence during Snibson's sentencing.
A second man, Andrew Wayne Flentjar, was jailed last month for at least seven years for his part in kidnapping the couple.
Giving evidence, Kim Leanne Snibson frequently broke down as she contradicted evidence given by her accomplice.
The 37-year-old said she felt "sick to my stomach" about the murders, adding "I think about it every single day".
Snibson said the couple separately came to the Nowra Hill home she rented to Stacey Lea-Caton, after she had informed Ms McKay she had had an affair with Mr Hosa.
She said while the couple argued, Lea-Caton picked up a bird perch and hit Mr Hosa on the head, causing him to fall to the ground.
Snibson said Ms McKay then argued with her and another man present, Andrew Wayne Flentjar, who tackled the woman as she "came at me".
"She fell back and hit her head on the pantry and fell on the floor," Snibson said.
Snibson said Lea-Caton was the person who later lit the bodies of the couple, when they were taken in metal drums to the forest.
Lea-Caton has given evidence at the hearing, telling the judge Snibson wrapped the tape around Ms McKay's head and pulled a piece of wire around Mr Hosa's neck.
He also said Snibson was the one who poured petrol into the drums and lit the bodies.