Astrid Muller: Eastern Creek murder accused attacked by ex-lover at pokies
The former lover of accused murderer Sosiua Tonga has faced court after she assaulted him over his gambling habit at a western Sydney pub.
Blacktown
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The former lover of an accused murderer has been sentenced in court after she assaulted him over gambling their money away at a western Sydney pub.
Astrid Ruth Muller, 38, faced Blacktown Local Court on Thursday, charged with one count of common assault against her then-partner Sosiua Tonga, 34, at Eastern Creek Tavern in August 2019.
The court heard Mr Tonga is currently awaiting trial over the alleged stabbing death of a 34-year-old man at Muller’s Eastern Creek home just two days after she assaulted him on August 9.
Court documents showed that Muller had become increasingly frustrated with Mr Tonga in the days leading up to the assault due to him gambling away $4,000 of their shared funds on pokie machines.
Muller’s defence told the court she had been calling and texting Mr Tonga for two hours prior to the assault warning him to stop gambling their money.
However, when Mr Tonga ignored her demands, Muller made her way to the tavern’s gaming room just before midnight and struck him in the head with her mobile phone and flicked him on the face.
Police said Mr Tonga reacted by grabbing Muller by her coat and pushing her into a nearby pokie machine. Mr Tonga blew cigarette smoke into her face before punching her in the face, police said.
A verbal argument continued until witnesses intervened to break up the pair. Shortly after, Mr Tonga returned to gambling and police were called to the venue.
The court heard Muller had been “provoked” by Mr Tonga’s gambling habits.
“She acted out of frustration when she flicked him in the face,” the defence said.
“She was provoked by the victim as he was taking her money.”
The defence told the court Muller had witnessed Mr Tonga allegedly murder a man known to her in her home.
Police allege Mr Tonga stabbed Filipino national Juan Miguel Cerrantes with a screwdriver at Muller’s Cable Pl home on the night of August 9.
Cerrantes suffered serious head injuries and was taken to Westmead Hospital, where he died a short time later.
Police are now investigating the relationship between the trio.
She said Muller had turned to using the drug ‘ice’ as she had had difficulty coping with the alleged murder.
“On August 9, she witnessed a murder in her home. This has caused a significant impact on her mental health,” the defence said.
“Most of her offending started when she began a relationship with the victim (Mr Tonga).”
In sentencing, Magistrate Jennifer Giles acknowledged Muller’s circumstances.
“This horrible person, the father of your children, hopefully, is out of your life for a significantly long time,” Ms Giles said.
“You need to lead a very quiet life now.”
Muller was sentenced to a Conditional Release Order for eight months.