Dale Lee Vella charged with murdering her husband

A woman allegedly killed her husband of 25 years with a double barrel shotgun while he was sleeping because he ‘was snoring’, a court has heard.

A woman charged with murder allegedly killed her husband of 25 years with a double-barrel shotgun while he was sleeping in their rural property near Canberra.

Dale Lee Vella, 53, appeared via audio-visual link at Goulburn Local Court on Wednesday for a further mention where she applied for bail.

The Murrumbateman resident was arrested the night of the alleged murder on August 9 – a charge she has not yet pleaded to.

Dale Lee Vella, 53, (pictured) is in custody after allegedly murdering her husband in the small town of Murrumbateman, north of Canberra. Source: Facebook

Crown prosecutor Nicole Johnson told the court Mrs Vella allegedly shot her husband with a double-barrel shotgun that was registered in her name.

Ms Johnson said after the shooting, family members heard Mrs Vella say: “Call an ambulance, I shot him, I was going to shoot myself but I shot him.”

And that when asked if her husband did anything to upset her, she said “no, he was snoring.”

According to Mrs Vella’s lawyer, Gregory Hoare, a doctor’s medical report said she exhibited “something of amnesia” immediately before and after the death of her husband.

Mr Hoare said Mrs Vella had previously suffered abuse at the hands of her husband.

“She has been the subject of ongoing increasing persistent psychological abuse from the deceased for years,” Mr Hoare said.

“This is not a cold-blooded murder of a stranger, this is something that comes about of numerous factors.”

However Ms Johnson said there was no evidence of abuse at this stage.

When first arrested, Mr Hoare said Mrs Vella was put on “suicide watch” and that she has not received any medication she was previously on before going into custody.

“She is a cancer patient and is supposed to be on chemo medication and has received no supplementary medication,” Mr Hoare said.

“Since she’s been in custody, she’s not seen a medical doctor once – she’s seen a psychiatric nurse on two occasions.

“She was taken for some cancer investigation about a month ago, to Westmead Hospital, and when she was there she realised it’s the hospital where her two-year-old daughter died and she refused to be treated there.”

Dale Lee Vella appeared at Goulburn Local Court via audio visual link. Picture: Niki Iliagoueva

Mr Hoare stressed his frustration with a justice health report not yet being prepared for the matter, which Magistrate Geraldine Beattie had ordered in the last court date.

The court heard Mrs Vella has ongoing psychological problems including depression and anxiety.

Mr Hoare suggested the combination of drugs she was on – an antidepressant, pain medication for her legs, knees and feet, and chemo medication – could have affected her actions, but he could not be sure until the justice health report is received.

Mr Hoare said cognitive testing and treatment for her health would occur with Mrs Vella out of jail.

Ms Johnson said the matter was “a strong case of murder” and that Mrs Vella’s “intention to kill was very strong”.

She said that it was inconclusive whether she was “substantially impaired” on the night of the alleged murder – having been coherent in the police interview.

Ms Johnson said cognitive assessment could be done in custody, as could treatment for anxiety and depression.

She additionally questioned the need for chemotherapy medication, saying there was no evidence she needed it and it was already available in custody.

When deciding whether Mrs Vella showed cause for bail, Magistrate Beattie acknowledged there were “all these holes for someone who needs ongoing regular treatment and counselling.”

“There’s material before me for Mrs Vella to at least have an investigation into her medication and chemo medication,” Ms Beattie said.

She said there was not enough evidence to give Mrs Vella bail but her opinion could change after reading a justice health report.

Mrs Vella’s bail application was heard on December 21 and refused. She is due to appear in Goulburn Local Court for charge certification on February 16.