Anthony Wright sentenced over stabbing murder of Tablelands nurse, wife Lynne Wright

A “much-loved” Far North Queensland nurse was stabbed to death and left to die on the bathroom floor after she refused to take a day off and spend it with her husband of 32 years, a court has heard.

Mareeba Hospital nurse Lynne Wright died after being stabbed in her Atherton home at the weeknd. Picture: Supplied

A “much-loved” Far North Queensland nurse was stabbed to death and left to die on the bathroom floor after she refused to take a day off and spend it with her husband of 32 years, a court has heard.

Anthony Coulter Wright, 74, pleaded guilty to the murder of his wife, 65-year-old Atherton nurse Lynne Wright earlier this year.

He sat with his hands in his lap, lips quivering and eyes filled with tears as he listened to the words from his stepdaughter and was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday.

Mareeba Hospital nurse Lynne Wright died after being stabbed in her Atherton home by her husband Anthony Coulter Wright. Picture: Supplied

Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald told the court the pair met when they were both working at the Atherton Hospital — Wright as a wardsman and Lynne as a nurse.

She said Wright murdered his wife six days after her 65th birthday.

Lynne had told him she would not take the day off work to spend time with him.

The court heard the day before the murder, the pair’s son had visited the home and had said Wright had “appeared completely normal, his usual self”.

Ms Friedewald told the court on April 30, 2023, Wright got a 10cm folding knife and confronted her in the bathroom once she got out of the shower after being told by Lynne she would not be taking a day off.

Mareeba Hospital nurse Lynne Wright died after being stabbed in her Atherton home at the weeknd. Picture: Supplied

“He stabbed her mid-trunk, penetrating her peritoneal cavity and her liver,” she said.

“Ms Wright grabbed at the knife which was evident by defensive wounds to her hand.”

The court heard Wright then slashed at his wife “in a frenzy” causing three injuries to her neck.

“One wound severed her jugular and a second caused a deep injury into her trachea,” Ms Friedewald said.

“She fell to the floor saying ‘Please don’t kill me’.”

Mareeba Hospital nurse Lynne Wright. Picture: Supplied

Ms Friedewald told the court Ms Wright was bleeding heavily and likely died of blood loss from her injuries.

Her body was later discovered by her son on a usual visit.

The court heard Wright changed clothes and sent a text to his sister-in-law and his stepdaughter, saying they had “let him down”.

“He left the house locked behind him and drove away towards Cooktown,” Ms Friedewald.

Around the area of the Byerstown Range, Wright attempted – unsuccessfully – to take his own life.

He was later apprehended by police walking along the Mulligan Hwy and was taken to Mareeba Police Station where he told police he had killed his wife.

In his police interview, Wright spoke of a 10-12 year decline in his relationship with his wife, telling them he had “lost the plot and snapped”.

Wright had no history of domestic violence.

In a victim impact statement, Ms Wright’s daughter, Sonya Rogers said the family had been left “invisibly scarred”.

“Over 500 people showed up to farewell her,” her statement read.

“Her life mattered.”

After the senetence Ms Rogers said it was just a “tragic incident all round”.

“We have lost our mother in a cruel and tragic way, but at the same time, we’ve lost our other parent too,” she said.

“He has to live with what he done, and I hope he truly feels sorry for his actions, but we as a family have to live the rest of our lives without either of them, and that’s the true life sentence that’s been dealt in this case.”

Wright’s defence counsel, Kelly Goodwin, said Wright was remorseful and took full responsibility for his actions.

“He made full admissions to police,” he said.

Mr Goodwin said that Wright had experienced verbal abuse and derogatory statements from his wife as their relationship declined.

Justice James Henry called Wright’s act a “senseless and cruel killing”.

“Your lack of emotional intelligence and perhaps your financial and social circumstances evidently left you unable to depart the marital relationship,” he said.

“Your fatal choice does not seem to be provoked by anything particularly virile. In one fell swoop you took a life and caused untold grief.

“There is no greater impact than taking the life of another.

“You denied her the surrounding company of the youth of the generations to follow her.”

Wright was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Originally published as Anthony Wright sentenced over stabbing murder of Tablelands nurse, wife Lynne Wright