Warren Dhamarrandji faces murder trial after brazen Jingili Water Gardens daylight stabbing death

Defence barrister Phillip Boulten SC told the jury there was ‘no dispute’ his client stabbed the woman to death after he ‘lost it’ when she tried to break up with him.

The scene in Jingili is taped off by police on December 1, 2022. Picture: Che Chorley

A man who viciously stabbed his ex-partner to death in “broad daylight” at the Jingili Water Gardens has faced the first day of his murder trial after prosecutors rejected a guilty plea to manslaughter.

Warren Dhamarrandji, 39, faced a Supreme Court jury on Monday where the court heard his not guilty plea to murder was based on the partial defence of “diminished responsibility”.

Director of Public Prosecutions Lloyd Babb SC told jurors the victim, who cannot be named for cultural reasons, was walking through the gardens in December 2020 when Dhamarrandji arrived on his pushbike.

When he asked her why she was “going back to Wadeye”, the woman replied: “I’m going to leave you, you keep giving me a hiding”.

Mr Babb said Dhamarrandji then chased her down and stabbed her repeatedly with a knife while her sister tried desperately to intervene, with the fatal blow eventually piercing her heart.

“I expect you’ll hear evidence that the accused left the deceased lying face up on the bitumen of Freshwater Drive, Jingili and that he left as he arrived, that is by riding a pushbike,” he said.

Shots from the scene of an apparent homicide, Jingili. Picture: Che Chorley

In response, defence barrister Phillip Boulten SC told the jury there was “no dispute” Dhamarrandji killed the woman when he “lost it” after becoming “distraught” that she had decided to end the relationship.

“What he did was very wrong, he accepts responsibility for her death in tragic circumstances for her particularly, and her family,” he said.

“He accepts that he stabbed her and he accepts that he caused her death and he accepts that what he did was done at least intending to cause her serious harm.

“But even so, as you heard, there is a dispute about whether he should be found guilty of murder.”

Mr Boulten said neuropsychologist Laura Scott would give evidence for the defence that Dhamarrandji had “a very low level of intellectual functioning”, which was more than “just below average”.

Warren Dhamarrandji has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to murder.

“She will give evidence that Warren Dhamarrandji has a globally reduced level of intellectual functioning and he probably has what all the medical experts call an intellectual disability,” he said.

“The evidence will suggest that his impairments are significant and that they particularly impede his ability to be able to weigh up information to understand how to properly react in emotional crises.”

But Mr Boulten said whatever the jury’s decision, it would “not lead to total absolution”.

“Even with a verdict of guilty of manslaughter there will be a finding of guilt to a very serious criminal charge,” he said.

The trial continues.