Ashton Jones’ final violent moments aired in Hobart court after killer pleads to manslaughter

“Did he know he was going to die? Was he in pain? Was he frightened? It all tortures me.” The family of a slain Hobart man have shared their grief, with his final moments aired in court.

Father-of-one, Ashton Frederick Jones. Picture: Facebook

Years after his violent death, the final moments of Mornington man Ashton Jones have been aired in open court, before a public gallery filled with grieving loved ones.

On Friday, Caleb Adams faced the Supreme Court of Tasmania after pleading guilty to the stabbing manslaughter of 34-year-old Mr Jones in October 2020.

His plea this March came after the case had been held up in the court system for years, with Adams planning to fight a charge of murder before it was ultimately downgraded to manslaughter.

Reading the facts of the case to the court, Crown prosecutor Linda Mason SC said both Adams and Mr Jones had been living in nearby social housing units at Carbeen Street, Mornington.

She said Adams had been caught in an “ongoing conflict” with some of his other neighbours – not Mr Jones – and that he’d come home to see the front windows of his unit had been smashed.

Tasmania Police investigators attending the manslaughter scene. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Jones, incorrectly believing Adams was in custody, told neighbours he’d noticed Adams’ windows were broken and that he planned to steal his television and other property.

With socks on his hands, Mr Jones tried to climb through Adams’ broken kitchen window in the middle of the night.

But Adams woke, picking up a large kitchen knife with a 22cm blade and stabbing Mr Jones – who was leaning through the window – to the neck.

Mr Jones fell backwards, with the knife severing his carotid artery and jugular vein, puncturing his right lung, and causing “copious bleeding”.

Police at Carbeen Street after Mr Jones’ body was discovered in the car park. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

He stumbled away to the car park, but died shortly afterwards from blood loss.

Adams phoned a friend, then called triple-0, saying he’d stabbed an intruder in “self-defence”.

Ms Mason said Adams had not realised it was Mr Jones trying to enter his home, but another man who had threatened to burn his unit.

“We submit, the use of the knife and the way he used it was unreasonable in the circumstances,” she said.

“It was an over-reaction to what was occurring.”

Mr Jones’ mother, Kim Burgess, tearfully told the court she now rarely socialised, and instead spent her days alone thinking about her son.

Ashton Frederick Jones has been remembered by his loved ones in court. Picture: Facebook

“I’m so caught up in my memories of him,” she said.

“Did he know he was going to die? Was he in pain? Was he frightened? It all tortures me.”

Ms Burgess said the court delays had been “exceptionally cruel”.

“In addition to this unbearable nightmare, it has definitely prolonged my grief,” she said.

“Four years of court delays, four years of not knowing the circumstances of my son’s death … and four years of not knowing if there will be any justice for Ashton’s death. It’s been horrific.

“By now, I understand that healing will never be possible, but we deserved closure from the legal process years ago.”

Grandfather Fred Jones said Mr Jones – “a happy although often troubled young man” – had brought joy to his grandparents.

“Life will never ever be the same for his Nan and I,” he said.

“(This has) made his Nan and I hope more than ever that there is a heaven.”

Adams, now 34, will return to court on June 3 ahead of sentencing.

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