Court told of vicious stabbing in Voula Delios murder case

LOVED North Hobart shopkeeper Voula Delios, 68, died on the floor of her grocery store after being stabbed repeatedly by a schizophrenic man who was waging war on “heathens”, the Supreme Court has heard.

Michael Delios with his mother Voula Delios in the A and B foodstore in North Hobart back in 2003.

LOVED North Hobart shopkeeper Voula Delios, 68, died on the floor of her grocery store after being stabbed repeatedly by a schizophrenic man who was waging war on “heathens”, the day after he was released from prison, a court has heard.

The Supreme Court in Hobart heard Daryl Royston Wayne Cook, 36, of Claremont, went into the North Hobart Grocer about lunchtime on July 23, 2016 — the third time he had visited the store that day — and stabbed Mrs Delios 22 times.

Mr Cook has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.

On the opening day of the trial on Friday, both prosecution and defence told the jurors they would have no trouble finding that Mr Cook had committed the act as charged, but they could find him not guilty on the grounds of insanity.

Tasmania Police forensic unit outside the shop where Voula Delios died in 2016. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“The defence does not dispute that the deceased … died as a result of Mr Cook’s actions,” defence lawyer Rochelle Mainwaring said.

“The fundamental issue on this trial is whether Mr Cook was so mentally ill … that he should not be criminally responsible.”

Director of Public Prosecutions Daryl Coates, SC, said the jury could be satisfied Mr Cook “committed the act as charged … but is not guilty on the grounds that he was insane at the time so as not to be responsible according to law”.

Mr Coates said Mrs Delios was working in the shop alone when she was killed by Mr Cook.

He said Mr Cook had already entered the shop twice, the first time he bought a can of Coke and asked the time. The second time he wanted to light a cigarette but Mrs Delios would not let him.

The third time Mr Cook entered the shop, Mr Coates said, Mrs Delios was standing to the left of the door with her back to Mr Cook.

“Immediately upon entry the accused began stabbing Mrs Delios to the neck,” he said.

“[He] stabbed Mrs Delios as hard as he could until he saw blood coming out.”

Mr Coates said Mr Cook also punched Mrs Delios to the head, causing her to fall to the floor, and kicked her.

Voula's daughter Maria, left, leaving the court. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

He said Mr Cook dragged Mrs Delios farther into the shop so that she was hidden by the fruit and vegetable stand from the view of those on the street.

The court heard Mr Cook then took the shop’s cash tray.

“He hid the cash tray under a parked car in Newdegate St, got into a taxi and asked the taxi to go to Eagle St in Claremont,” Mr Coates said.

“Despite receiving assistance from a number of people in the vicinity, Mrs Delios died in the shop as a result of her injuries.”

Mr Coates said police arrested Mr Cook at the Eagle St address about 11pm the same day.

He said Mr Cook told police “that he killed Mrs Delios because she was a heathen and he wanted her money”.

He also said Mr Cook had been “planning to kill people on his release [who] he thought were heathens but he had no particular person in mind”.

“When asked by the police whether he knew the deceased, he replied, ‘no, just one of the many heathens’,” Mr Coates said.

He said Mr Cook also told police: “I’m glad God helped me do it.”

Witness Jared Khu, a prison volunteer, leaving the court. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

Prison volunteer Jared Khu told the jury he saw Mr Cook about once a fortnight between December 2015 and July 2016.

He said Mr Cook’s comments about waging war on heathens “was a common thing that stuck in my memory”.

Mr Khu said he gave Mr Cook a lift into the city on July 22 after Mr Cook was released from prison.

He said they had brunch at Banjo’s then went to a Christian bookshop where Mr Cook wanted rosary beads. Mr Khu said he also bought a bible for Mr Cook.

“I asked him what are you going to do now that you’re out and his reply was, ‘I’m going to wage war on the heathens’,” Mr Khu said.

Mr Khu said while he was in the city with Mr Cook, Mr Cook was greeting total strangers and identifying pedestrians as heathens or Christians.

Mr Khu said he reminded Mr Cook about an appointment the latter had with his parole officer and left him in the city.

The jury watched security camera footage from Target that showed Mr Cook buying a knife. Mr Coates said Mr Cook later told police the knife was “to defend himself and attack heathens”.

Prison chaplain and witness Luke Campton told the court Mr Cook had talked about needing to seek revenge on the heathens. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

Prison chaplain Luke Campton said Mr Cook was often happy and talkative but on some occasions was difficult to engage.

Mr Campton said he spoke to Mr Cook the day before he was released.

“Right from the start of the conversation from memory, Daryl talked about needing to seek revenge on the heathens,” he said.

Mr Campton also said Mr Cook told him he was a Christian warrior, like a crusader.

He said he told Mr Cook it was not his job to seek revenge, and that Mr Cook said he would not do anything silly, and would not be back in jail.

The jury also heard Mr Cook went to a Catholic ministry, the Society of Christian Doctrine, in Sandy Bay, after his release, because he wanted to pray at its chapel.

The trial, before Justice Gregory Geason, continues on Monday.