Kristian Kovaleff sentencing continues after Parramatta hotel murder

A teen who fatally stabbed a girl at a Parramatta hotel lied about aliens, having PTSD and hearing voices to medical experts for 18 months but was driven to kill out of jealousy, a court has heard.

Kristian Kovaleff killed a 17-year-old girl a week before Christmas. Picture: Facebook

Killer Kristian Kovaleff feigned mental health problems such as psychosis, PTSD and schizophrenia with experts for 18 months after he murdered a girl and planned to chop her body up to fit in a suitcase but lied to reduce his sentence for the brutal murder, a court has heard.

Forensic psychiatrist Dr Richard Furst, who had three appointments with Kovaleff, gave evidence in the NSW Supreme Court on Wednesday when sentencing submissions continued before Justice Stephen Rothman.

Kovaleff pleaded guilty to murder and wound with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after he killed the 17-year-old and stabbed her friend multiple times at the Meriton Apartments, Parramatta, on December 18, 2020.

The court heard how Kovaleff did not meet the criteria for autism or a psychiatric illness to blame for that night when he packed a big suitcase in the boot of his BMW so he could fulfil a goal to chop up two bodies, drive them around and dispose of the corpses.

“Even listening to him giving evidence (last week), I don’t think he’s very bright,’’ Dr Furst said.

Kristian Kovaleff killed the girl days shy of her 18th birthday. Picture: Julian Andrews

“He’s below average and scored low on tests … his communication style is also quite simple but it might be his intellect rather than autism spectrum disorder.”

The court heard this did not excuse the murder but could explain jealous and obsessive attitudes developed towards others. It also heard that Kovaleff talked about “aliens coming, hearing a voice”.

“I don’t think this offender has thought about things long term,’’ Dr Furst said.

“I wouldn’t call it a sophisticated offender in that sense.’’

In closing submissions, the Crown told the court Kovaleff was acting out of self interest on the night he murdered the girl and wounded her friend, who cannot be named because they were under 18.

A week before the fatality, he planned to murder her friend after tying her up at a Campbelltown motel. The day of the homicide, Kovaleff bought duct tape, a chainsaw and rope from Bunnings so he could carry out the horrific offences.

He killed the victim days shy of her 18th birthday and spared her friend the same fate because he wanted to have sex with her.

He was jealous because a male friend of the victim wanted to join the group.

The former Guildford man wanted to “chill out” instead of calling an ambulance for the victim, who was lying on the floor, staring at the roof and gasping after the attack after 8pm.

Afterwards he started singing his favourite song, I’m a Bomb.

The Crown told the court Kovaleff, who was obsessed with US serial killer Ted Bundy, failed to show remorse and acted in self interest even after he described the girl’s body as “stone cold dead”.

The first time he called an ambulance he hung up when he realised the call could be traced.

“The offender plainly knew that the deceased did not die immediately,’’ the Crown said.

“He made it clear that he had heard her call out and that he appreciated that she was not dead and he did not call an ambulance because he did not want to get caught.’’

Justice Rothman said while “we will never know” calling an ambulance earlier could have saved the victim’s life.

The Crown reminded the court how Kovaleff feigned mental illness to “play the game to escape the consequences”.

Paramedics arrived at 10.45pm and found the victim unconscious with wounds to her stomach, left thigh and back. She was rushed to hospital, but was pronounced dead at 11.43pm.

After calling his dad and fleeing to Eastern Creek, Kovaleff, who was then 19, turned himself in at Parramatta police station.

Barrister Tony Evers told the court his client was abandoned by his mother when he was five and he reiterated that he had limited intellect, was dysfunctional and had distorted views.

Despite the killer conceding he murdered the girl because he thought it would make him happy, Mr Evers said he did not feel that way after the stabbing and was sorry for the death of the “undeserving’’ victim.

“He described himself as a monster to (the survivor),’’ Mr Evers said.

“He told her he wasn’t going to hurt her and put the knife down.

“It does show a change of attitude - it shows elements of remorse.

“The mere fact he didn’t kill (the survivor) is evidence of that. She was clearly at his mercy but he didn’t.’’

The barrister told the court Kovaleff was “remarkably frank’’ with his admissions and he deserved the “full benefits” of his guilty pleas.

The court heard how there was scope to defend the charge of wound with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to which Justice Rothman replied: “You’re telling me that wound with intent to cause grievous bodily harm could be defended when there’s an intent of plunging of a knife in someone’s abdomen?’’

Justice Rothman reserved his judgment for March 10.