Adam Coble discovered wife’s affair before fatal stabbing, court hears

A Sydney man had discovered his wife was having an affair before he stabbed his mother-in-law, who then fatally stabbed him back in self-defence, an inquest has been told.

A Sydney man had just discovered his wife was having an affair with her taekwondo instructor before he stabbed his mother-in-law, who then fatally stabbed him back in self-defence, an inquest has been told.

Adam Coble, 40, was found dead by police with a knife plunged into his chest after he had a heated argument with his wife, Robyn Coble, and his mother-in-law, Kay Leonard, at his North Richmond home in January, 2019.

Counsel assisting the coroner, Senior Sergeant Sasha Harding, told Lidcombe Coroners Court on Monday Mrs Coble had begun an affair with her taekwondo teacher — called Dan — in September, 2018, before Mr Coble uncovered sexually explicit text messages she had sent Dan just prior to the fight.

Adam and Robyn Coble.

Police at the scene on January 14, 2019.

The couple started to argue when Mrs Coble called her mum Ms Leonard, who went to their house and told Mr Coble: “Look, youse can’t keep fighting – Adam, you can move out if you want to, you can go and stay at your mums”.

Snr Sgt Harding said after that comment a violent fight erupted in the lounge room when Mr Coble stabbed Mrs Leonard before she managed to turn the knife on him in self-defence while Mrs Coble held him in a chokehold.

“He took a knife from a kitchen drawer and approached Kay from behind, Adam took Kay’s hair and smashed her into the floor, he stabbed Kay in the neck,” Snr Sgt Harding said.

“Robyn jumped up from where she was seated and tried to pull him away, Kay remained conscious, she fought with both hands, Kay took hold of the blade with her left hand and held it as tightly as she could, Robyn placed Adam in a chokehold.

“Kay took the knife from Adam and drove it into his chest once, Robyn continued to maintain her hold while screaming for help.”

Mr and Mrs Coble’s teenage daughter witnessed the attack before she ran outside to dial triple-0 and said: “My mum’s mum – he’s killing her”.

A police officer, who had activated his body-worn camera, quickly arrived and found Mrs Leonard with critical injuries on the lounge room floor and Mrs Coble holding a lifeless Mr Coble in the chokehold.

Robyn Coble pictured leaving Windsor Police Station following her husband’s death Picture: Monique Harmer.

Robyn Coble in the white T shirt. Picture: Monique Harmer.

Mrs Leonard immediately said: “I’ve been stabbed in the neck, I took the knife out of his hands and stabbed him”.

Mrs Coble then said: “Help us, if I let him go, he’ll kill us” to which the police officer replied: “No he won’t he’s dead.”

Mrs Leonard was rushed to hospital and spent 10 days in a coma and five weeks in intensive care but survived.

Detective Senior Constable Joseph Connolly, the officer in charge of the case, told the court that Mrs Leonard’s injuries were consistent with her account that she had struggled to disarm Mr Coble and that there was no premeditation involved in his killing.

The court was told Mr and Mrs Coble had a history of domestic violence dating back to 2008 and that friends had said their relationship was “unhealthy and toxic”.

Snr Sgt Harding told Deputy State Coroner Derek Lee this was not a case where the evidence would satisfy a jury beyond a reasonable doubt that anyone had committed an offence over Mr Coble’s death.

Mr Lee will deliver his findings into Mr Coble’s death on Wednesday.

Outside court, Mr Coble’s mother, Anne Skeed, said there was a lot of information police hadn’t taken into account during their probe.

“It’s a difficult day because I had so much more information that wasn’t put out there.

She said her was son a good man but his relationship with Mrs Coble had been difficult.

“He was a great horseman, he was a great upholsterer, he wrote beautiful poetry – all that stopped after some years of being in the relationship,” she said.

“He was a good man and he loved her very much … it’s just sad that it’s turned out the way it has, extremely sad.”