Paul Cairney stands trial after pleading not guilty to murdering Jason Smith at Bellambi

A dispute between old school friends about one allegedly overstaying their welcome “escalated with devastating consequences” a court has heard with a man fatally stabbed in an Illawarra backyard.

Paul John Cairney is standing trial in the NSW Supreme Court after pleading not guilty to murder. Picture: Facebook

A dispute between old school friends about one allegedly overstaying their welcome “escalated with devastating consequences” a court has heard with a man fatally stabbed in an Illawarra backyard.

Crown prosecutor Kate Ratcliffe made the submission during her opening address in the trial of Paul John Cairney in the NSW Supreme Court sitting at Wollongong on Thursday.

Cairney, 53, previously pleaded not guilty to murdering Jason Smith. Ms Ratcliffe told the jury he will argue he was acting in self defence when he stabbed Mr Smith with a kitchen knife at an address in Bellambi on December 18, 2022.

The court heard Mr Smith, who was 52 when he died, had gone to school in the Illawarra with Cairney. He lived at Gosford for a period before moving back to the Illawarra.

Ms Ratcliffe submitted Mr Smith was living out of a trailer in the driveway of Cairney’s partner Sandra Ponfield’s home on Turner Esplanade for about a week prior to his death.

The trial is being heard in Wollongong.

The Crown prosecutor said the accused and his partner were “disturbed” by Mr Smith drinking all day and staying up late with Ms Ratcliffe asserting they felt he was “taking advantage of the hospitality extended” to him.

Ms Ratcliffe submitted shortly after 9am on December 18 – about nine hours before he was stabbed – Mr Smith was pulled over and caught mid-range drink driving. The court heard while Mr Smith was at Corrimal Police Station, his Ford F100 and dog went missing with the now-deceased believing this had something to do with the accused and Ms Ponfield.

The court heard Paul Cairney (pictured) and Jason Smith were friends dating back to school. Picture: Facebook

The court heard throughout the altercation the accused had driven Mr Smith’s trailer onto the road and had armed himself with a baseball bat.

Ms Ratcliffe told the jury extensive details about a physical altercation between Mr Smith and the accused which she submitted was witnessed in part by multiple neighbours and recorded, also in part, on phones, CCTV and a dashcam.

The Crown prosecutor said Mr Smith was struck by Cairney at different points with the bat and a metal pole.

However, Ms Ratcliffe submitted the fatal moment occurred in Ms Ponfield’s backyard after the accused had allegedly retrieved a large black-handled knife from the kitchen and stabbed Mr Smith in the upper chest.

Ms Ratcliffe told the court there was no footage of the stabbing itself, but there were “observations” from a neighbour.

The Crown prosecutor said a motion-activated dashcam picked up Cairney with a knife shortly before it recorded Mr Smith wounded at the back gate shortly after 6.30pm.

Ms Ratcliffe said it was the Crown case it was “clear” Mr Smith had “nothing in his hand”.

The trial before Justice Stephen Campbell SC will continue on Friday.

Ms Ratcliffe will resume her opening submissions before an address from defence barrister Siobhain Climo.

Got a news story? Email [e-mail]