Man faces Gosford court charged with murder over the death of a woman at Umina Beach
AFTER 55 years of marriage, a man “just snapped” and allegedly stabbed his 74-year-old wife in the neck, killing her, after she laughed at him, police allege.
Central Coast
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A DETERIORATING marriage came to a bloody end after 55 years when a 77-year-old allegedly stabbed his 74-year-old wife because she laughed at him over accusations she was having an affair.
Police allege Ben Ivanoff told them he “just snapped” moments before he allegedly stabbed his wife, Leonne, in the neck at their Central Coast home at 2.30pm on Sunday.
The couple’s son Paul found his mother dead after his father called him. Paul then phoned triple-0 and told his father to have a shower.
Ivanoff allegedly told detectives his wife “nagged him all the time” and was screaming at him before she was killed. He was interviewed at Gosford Police Station before being charged with murder.
Police will allege that while there was no history of violence, the relationship had deteriorated in recent years. It’s also alleged Mr Ivanoff was under the misguided belief his wife was having an affair and whenever he raised it with her she would laugh at him, enraging him further.
It is understood Mr Ivanoff told detectives she was laughing at him when he mentioned the affair and an altercation ensued while he was holding a knife. He allegedly told police he only wanted to scare her.
Police will allege they found a black plastic knife handle under a coffee table a short distance from where the victim’s body was discovered. The blade of the knife was still in her neck.
Ivanoff’s Legal Aid solicitor told Gosford Local Court yesterday he suffered from depression, macular degeneration, heart problems and had recently been diagnosed with dementia.
She told the court he “intends to plead not guilty” and needed to be released on bail to secure legal advice and medical treatment.
“He’s a cleanskin, he’s never been before the courts before,” she said. “The facts recently show he was hospitalised for dementia ... he will not be eligible for legal aid after today.”
Magistrate Bruce Williams refused bail, saying the medical conditions Ivanoff had were still present and he could be “a risk of further offending”. He said despite Ivanoff’s intention to plead not guilty he “made certain admissions” to police.
Ivanoff said nothing and will return to court on March 3.
Yesterday Paul Ivanoff said the family would stand by his father. “We want to get to the bottom of what happened but irrespective of the results (forensic) we will support our father through this because he will be terribly confused,” he said.
Lana Ivanoff, posted a tribute to her “nanna” on social media. “You’re in a better place now I know you will be always watching over me,” she said.
“You will be missed very much and will always be in my heart.”
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