Maddison Hickson on trial after pleading not guilty to murder of father Michael John Carroll at Tenambit

A jury has been told Maddison Hickson was acting out of “anger or frustration” and not in self defence when she stabbed her violent father twice in the heart.

51 year old stabbed victim Michael John Carroll.

A young woman was acting out of “anger or frustration” and not in self defence when she twice stabbed her father, a violent criminal with a history including domestic violence and an assault using pliers on a victim’s scrotum, in the heart during a struggle following a heated argument, a jury has been told.

And the NSW Supreme Court in Newcastle has heard Maddison Hickson had told friends as she “fled” the scene: “Get me away from him” before telling her mother minutes later: “He attacked me, I think I stabbed my dad” and, later to a police officer: “He tried to stab me”.

Ms Hickson has pleaded not guilty to murdering her 51-year-old father Michael Carroll after the pair argued inside the Tenambit home of two of Ms Hickson’s friends on January 16, 2021.

Maddison Hickson, 23, has pleaded not guilty to murdering her father Michael Carroll.

The jury heard on Tuesday that Ms Hickson, who was 21 at the time of her father’s death, admitted to being the person who inflicted the wounds to Mr Carroll in the lounge room of the Ronald St home.

But her defence barrister, public defender Peter Krisenthal, told the jury during opening addresses that it was Ms Hickson’s “honest belief” that she needed to defend herself from her father.

The jury also heard if prosecutors failed to prove Ms Hickson was not acting in self-defence, an alternative charge of manslaughter was also available if prosecutors proved her actions were unreasonable.

Michael Carroll

Also on trial is Taylah Renae McDonald, whose house the alleged murder occurred and has pleaded not guilty to being an accessory after the fact to murder and an alternative charge of hindering the discovery of evidence in relation to a serious indictable offence.

Prosecutors allege Ms McDonald put the knife allegedly used to stab Mr Carroll into a dishwasher to wash it and then misled police investigating the death.

The court heard Ms McDonald denies putting the knife into the dishwasher or misleading police.

In his opening address, Crown prosecutor Brian Costello told the jury that the father and daughter were two of five people inside the home when an argument began between Mr Carroll and a man after 7pm.

Mr Costello said the jury was expected to be told that a witness, who had left the house about 15 seconds before the stabbing, heard Ms Hickson say: ““F**ken stop it Dad and get the f*** out”.

He said he expected evidence would be given that Mr Carroll had called his daughter “a slut” which prompted more swearing from Ms Hickson.

Taylah Renae McDonald

Mr Costello said the verbal altercation turned physical before Mr Carroll was stabbed twice and Ms Hickson “fled”.

CCTV from the house would show Mr Carroll walking outside before collapsing and dying.

Ms Hickson, who was taken to her mother’s house before changing her clothes and showering, returned to the scene and was arrested.

Mr Costello said it was the crown case that Ms Hickson had stabbed her father in “anger or frustration” and that her actions did not constitute self-defence.

The jury was told that Mr Carroll’s criminal history would be heard during the trial, including him being jailed on several occasions for acts of violence.

They included domestic violence offences and an assault on a person with a baseball bat and pliers, which he used on the victim’s thighs and scrotum.

Mr Krisenthal said he expected the jury to hear that Mr Carroll had a propensity to become “paranoid, angry and aggressive” and felt a need to retaliate either by intimidation or physical assaults.

The trial, before Justice Ian Harrison, is expected to continue for three weeks.