Hobart stabbing murderer Annette Louise Ruth Hancock learns Supreme Court sentencing date

A Tasmanian woman found guilty of stabbing her partner to death during a drunken argument inside his Hobart flat three years ago is one step closer to learning her fate.

Police at the scene of the Harrington Street address of murder victim Benjamin Harris in 2022. Picture: Chris Kidd

A Tasmanian woman found guilty of stabbing her partner to death during a drunken argument inside his Hobart flat three years ago will be sentenced for murder next month.

Annette Louise Ruth Hancock, 56, was last year found guilty by a Supreme Court jury after pleading not guilty to killing her partner of three years, 51-year-old Benjamin Harris, at his Harrington Street social housing complex on the night of March 9, 2022.

Police at the scene of the Harrington Street address of murder victim Benjamin Harris in 2022. Picture: Chris Kidd

A sentencing hearing held before Justice Helen Wood in December heard Hancock had only just been released from prison for breaching a family violence order involving the victim when the murder occurred.

Crown prosecutor, Jack Shapiro, said the couple had been drinking heavily on the day of the incident, and had engaged in a verbal altercation after Mr Harris admitted to being unfaithful while Hancock was incarcerated.

The court was told Hancock subsequently armed herself with a knife and stabbed Mr Harris in the back, with the wound puncturing his lung and causing cardiac arrest due to blood loss.

Hancock’s defence counsel, Kim Baumeler, told Justice Wood that her client had effectively been homeless when she was released from prison, and had been relying on Mr Harris for accommodation at the time of the offence.

On Tuesday in the Supreme Court in Hobart, Justice Wood set down Tuesday, 3 June for sentencing, and remanded Hancock in custody to that date.

Originally published as Hobart stabbing murderer Annette Louise Ruth Hancock learns Supreme Court sentencing date