Michael Carroll stabbing: Taylah McDonald charged with accessory after the fact of murder

Detectives will allege Taylah Renae McDonald, 26, concealed the alleged murder of Michael John Carroll, altered the crime scene and provided false statements to police.

A woman who saw standover man Michael John Carroll bleed to death on her front lawn told a triple-0 operator the career criminal had stabbed himself before washing a knife suspected of being used in “attempts to mislead police and mitigate the actions’’ of the accused killer, police allege.

Newcastle Local Court has heard Taylah Renae McDonald “strongly denies” helping her friend, Carroll’s daughter and accused murderer Maddison Hickson, after the violent 51-year-old died from knife wounds to the heart in January.

But police allege that McDonald, 26, lied to a triple-0 operator about what had occurred inside her Tenambit home and then hid important facts about the crime scene, the possible murder weapon and allowed Hickson time to leave, shower and dispose of her clothing.

Police arrest Taylah Renae McDonald at her West Wallsend home. She was later charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder of Michael John Carroll and hinder the discovery of evidence. Picture: NSW Police.

McDonald, 26, has been charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder and hindering the discovery of evidence (serious indictable offence) after being arrested at West Wallsend by detectives on Tuesday.

She successfully applied for bail on Tuesday in Newcastle Local Court, with court documents tendered during the hearing revealing new information about the alleged murder.

It includes allegations that Carroll and Hickson had became embroiled in an argument in the living room McDonald had shared with another friend before a knife was produced.

Police allege Hickson stabbed Carroll twice in front of a television before he stumbled out onto the front lawn, collapsed and died.

Maddison Hickson, 23, has pleaded not guilty to murdering her father, violent standover man Michael John Carroll.

Hickson has pleaded not guilty to murdering her father.

The facts allege that immediately after the stabbing, McDonald rang triple-0 and told an operator “there’s been a domestic and a male has blood everywhere’’.

“[McDonald] states she doesn’t know what happened or who the people are,’’ the facts sheet alleged.

“The operator asks a number of questions about how the blood got everywhere and what happened.

“[McDonald] hesitates to answer questions about what happened, continually stating she doesn’t know, she just arrived home.

“When the operator asks if the attacker is nearby, the accused states, ‘there is no attacker, it was a fumble and I think he may have stabbed himself’.

“[McDonald] was asked several times if he was attacked or not. She doesn’t respond initially and eventually states ‘he stabbed himself, he didn’t mean to. He done it to himself, he tried to attack his daughter and he had a knife in his hand,

“[McDonald] is again asked ‘did he cut himself’. [McDonald] stated ‘yes, yes. He stabbed himself. He is dying.’’

Michael John Carroll

Detectives allege that Carroll had spent two consecutive days at McDonald’s house seeing his daughter.

The police facts allege McDonald would later tell police that Hickson and Carroll were arguing and pushing each other before McDonald separated the pair and saw Carroll drop the knife.

Hickson left the house before emergency services arrived, the facts allege.

“[McDonald] attempts to mislead police and mitigate the actions of Maddison Hickson who left the scene to shower, change and dispose of her clothing,’’ the facts allege.

“At some stage while CPR is being performed on Carroll, [McDonald] speaks to [a witness] whispering ‘I picked up the knife and put it in the dishwasher and cleaned it’. [The witness] told her ‘you are tampering with evidence’.’’

Once police got inside the home, they found a dishwasher on. Inside was a pocket knife “which appeared out of place” and “was not inconsistent with wounds located upon Carroll during the autopsy’’, the facts alleged.

Police further allege McDonald locked her bedroom door after Carroll was stabbed to hide the fact that the house had CCTV “or at least delay police from locating it’’.

Police arrest Taylah Renae McDonald at her West Wallsend home. She was later charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder of Michael John Carroll and hinder the discovery of evidence. Picture: NSW Police.

“It is evident the accused engaged in actions and behaviour to deliberately conceal evidence, mislead police to the cause of the fatal injuries and mitigate the actions of Maddison Hickson fleeing the scene following the stabbing,” the police facts allege.

It was also alleged: “The accused witnessed Carroll lose a substantial amount of bloody as a result of the injuries.

“He became unconscious and [did] not breath within minutes.

“The accused was aware he had sustained stab wounds, stating to the triple-0 operator ‘he’s dying’.

“The accused also told the triple-0 operator and police on scene the [victim] caused the injuries to himself and she saw the deceased drop the knife.

“These statements have [been] found to be false.

“The accused could not provide any information on how she formed the belief Carroll caused the injuries to himself, only giving statements that she didn’t see what happened.’’

Solicitor Alison Nowland, for McDonald, told the court her client strongly denied the allegations, stating she had made the triple-0 call and was traumatised after trying to revive Carroll.

Ms Nowland said McDonald also denied locking any doors.

Magistrate Janine Lacy granted bail with conditions, including daily reporting to police, not approach any prosecution witnesses and deposit a $2000 surety.

McDonald will face Maitland Local Court on December 20.