Wangaratta man Ricky Williams ‘sorry’ after caravan park murder of former partner Carmen Niklaus
The former partner of a brutal killer was left bleeding to death on the floor while her murderer called his son to apologise.
Albury Wodonga
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A Wangaratta dad told his son he was “sorry and going to be away for a long time” after murdering his ex-partner at a caravan park.
Ricky Williams, 44, who pleaded guilty to the murder of his ex-partner Carmen Niklaus, faced the Wangaratta Supreme Court for sentencing on Friday.
The tragic incident unfolded at the Everton Caravan and Tourist Park in 2021, where the father of three was residing.
Despite their separation, Williams and Ms Niklaus had maintained contact.
On December 6, 2021, a heated argument between the pair escalated when Ms Niklaus arrived at the caravan park in a taxi paid for by Williams.
The confrontation spiralled out of control as Williams unleashed a torrent of profanity, citing alleged falsehoods and trust issues regarding their relationship.
Enraged by Ms Niklaus’s reaction, Williams went to the kitchen for a cigarette but instead reached for a knife and repeatedly stabbed her in the abdomen.
Ms Niklaus suffered severe wounds as deep as 20cm, which lacerated vital organs.
According to court documents, Williams attributed his actions to a buildup of “lies” over the course of a year and a half, declaring the homeless Ms Niklaus to be a “nightmare of a person”.
After inflicting the fatal wounds, Williams neglected to seek medical assistance and instead called his son, confessing, “something bad has happened – Carmen is on the floor”.
“I’m sorry and going to be away for a long time,” he said.
Disturbing CCTV footage captured a neighbour discovering Ms Niklaus lying naked and bloodied on the living room floor.
The neighbour frantically dialled emergency services, but despite their efforts, Ms Niklaus succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after the attack.
During the trial, it was revealed financial manipulation was another motive behind Williams’ violent rampage.
He accused Ms Niklaus of exploiting him for money and expressed his weariness of her “lies”.
Just a week before the murder, Williams had confided in his housing assistance worker about his desire to move out of the caravan park.
Fearing homelessness and disgruntled with the prospect of finding alternative accommodation, he ominously declared, “On Monday, the first person I see I’m going to do something.”
In a statement read to the court, Ms Niklaus’ father Donald said the family was “profoundly affected by her death”.
The loss of a “loved” child would “haunt” him for the rest of his life, he said, and added to the grief of losing his son 15 years prior.
Ms Niklaus’ brother was diagnosed with depression after her death and wished he could have done “more to help her”, the court heard.
Justice John Champion accepted Williams had had a difficult life growing up – including suffering a head injury in a fight which triggered a “fight or flight” response – but
“You will be a significantly older man when you are released from custody,” Justice Champion told Williams in sentencing him to 24 years behind bars.
“The courts must denounce this is completely unacceptable.”
Williams will be eligible for parole in 2041.
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