Caroline Micallef honours Bailey Jones at Bomaderry killer, Dominic Saliba’s sentence hearing

A grieving mother has confronted the man who fatally stabbed her teenage son at a South Coast party, telling a Sydney court of how his “cowardly” actions shattered her family.

Caroline Micallef, mother of Bailey Jones, inside Bailey’s room at their Vincentia home on the NSW south coast. Picture: Simon Bullard

The mother of a “loving” and “happy” teenager brutally stabbed to death at a South Coast party has told his killer how the “cowardly” actions destroyed her family’s life.

Caroline Micallef tearfully addressed Dominic Saliba – found guilty of manslaughter – during his sentence hearing in the Supreme Court in Sydney on Wednesday, recounting the short life of her son, Bailey Jones.

Mrs Micallef described the “nightmare” she has lived since Saliba, now 22, fatally stabbed her son and his 18-year-old cousin with a 58cm knife at a Bomaderry party on December 9, 2022.

“I stand here torn today in full strength, facing Dominic in honour of Bailey,” she said through tears.

“He was one of a kind, and no parent should have to go through this.

Bailey Jones was 18 when he died. Picture: File

“The actions of Dominic Saliba have devastated our entire family and I cannot bring my son back.”

Saliba was arrested days after the stabbing, which occurred on the driveway of the suburban West Birriley St home.

Dominic Saliba was arrested and charged with murder in December 2022. Picture: NSW Police

Mr Jones was rushed to hospital, but tragically died shortly after arriving.

While Saliba was ultimately found not guilty of murder at a two-week jury trial in Nowra earlier this year, he was found guilty and convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Mrs Micallef said the trial only reinforced Saliba’s lack of remorse.

“I had to relive it all throughout the trial,” she said.

Caroline Micallef said her entire family missed Bailey Jones. Picture: File

“Dominic taking his life is unforgivable — he took my only birth child from me.”

Mr Jones’ stepfather, Lawrence Micallef, also addressed the court, describing the emotional toll the killing had taken.

“The day we lost our son, I lost my wife in grief,” he said.

“He’s all I think about every second of every day.

“It’s absolutely unfair his life was taken.”

The sentence hearing follows Saliba’s March through April trial, during which he claimed his cousin accidentally “tripped on a knife” — a version quickly dismissed by police after his fingerprints were unearthed on the weapon.

On the stand, Saliba admitted he lied to police and fabricated the claim.

He also denied murder, insisting he acted in self-defence during a heated argument.

The trial heard multiple accounts describing a “chaotic” night, marked by “obvious” tension between the cousins.

On Wednesday, Justice Dina Yehia heard submissions from Saliba’s defence barrister, Sonia Khalili, who revealed her client had penned an apology letter.

Justice Yehia will deliver judgment at a later date.

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