Friends of Luke Mitchell react with horror to his stabbing death

AFTER a fight more than two years into their relationship, Luke Mitchell was found dead. Now his girlfriend could face life in jail.

Luke Mitchell was stabbed in the chest.

WHEN Luke Mitchell didn’t post online about his beloved Essendon Bombers last weekend, friends knew at once something was wrong.

Mr Mitchell would usually take to Facebook and chat about the AFL club to dozens of people across Australia, many of whom he had never actually met — but who are now devastated he is dead.

The 39-year-old was found by police and paramedics lying on the living room floor of the small modest home in Andergrove, in the Queensland city of Mackay, about 4.30am on Sunday.

They checked for signs of life but the stab wound to his chest was so severe he was already dead.

News.com.au understands a panicked call to triple-0 came from a house further along the Andergrove, Mackay, street where the parents of Mr Mitchell’s partner, Peta Louise Ansford, live.

It’s understood Ms Ansford was found at her parents home and was interviewed by police throughout the day. She was questioned again by detectives on Tuesday and was then charged with murder.

The 40-year-old appeared in the Mackay Magistrates Court on Wednesday in tears. She entered no plea and was remanded in custody.

A close friend of Mr Mitchell, David Dennett, spoke to him on Saturday afternoon just hours before he was killed. He told news.com.au he sensed something was wrong.

“I knew something was bothering him. I wanted him to talk about it. He was very flat, and he didn’t want to talk.”

Luke Mitchell pictured with Essendon player Darcy Parish.

Mr Dennett had struggled with the “raw emotions” the death had stirred up.

“I couldn’t comprehend it. I slept last night for a few hours for the first time since I heard.”

His favourite memory of Mr Mitchell was his reaction to a surprise some mates organised when he was seriously unwell in hospital last year and recovering from major surgery.

They arranged for some Essendon players to send him a message — and Mr Mitchell was so touched he was moved to tears.

“He literally just burst into tears. All he could say was ‘you did this for me’.”

Despite having a big online persona, Mr Mitchell was often quite different in real life. “He could act different around different people,” Mr Dennett said.

“It sounds like a cliche but Luke was very much the larrikin type, he was very extroverted. But he would be appalled at all this fuss.”

He would be especially worried about the impact on Ms Ansford’s two children, who he cared deeply about.

“He adored those kids and was very proud at how far they’d come.”

The children were not home when the violent incident unfolded last weekend.

Detective Acting Inspector Mick Searle wouldn’t be drawn on the specifics of the case as it was now before the courts.

Many Bombers fans who posted tributes online said they first got worried when he was silent for so many days.

Peta Louise Ansford has been charged with murder.

Michelle Brodyk said she thought last Sunday night he was “missing in action” because he hadn’t put anything online.

“It was because he was dead.”

He had helped her through some personal struggles and had touched a lot of people who were shattered. “He had friends all over Australia ... I can’t express the happiness he brought to so many. He was an amazing man.”

Some who knew Mr Mitchell and Ms Ansford said they appeared happy and were planning to marry.

But one friend believed it was more likely they would split because there was “obvious tension” in the relationship.

“If I had an inkling it would have come to this then I would have done something, I would have got him out of there.”

Ms Ansford will return to court on July 26 for a committal mention.

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