The lawyer defending a woman accused of fatally stabbing her partner during an argument has lashed detectives after they upgraded her charges to manslaughter.
Claudia Maria Federico, 34, sobbed uncontrollably as details of her alleged offending were read out in Perth Magistrates Court on Friday, where she appeared via video link from Melaleuca Prison.
Claudia Maria Federico is facing manslaughter charges over the stabbing death of her partner.Credit: Facebook
The court heard how on March 4, Federico became embroiled in an argument with her partner and the father of her one-month-old baby, Joseph Michael Nicoli, 35, after the FIFO worker returned to their West Perth home allegedly high on methamphetamine.
Federico’s lawyer, Jeremy Noble, said her nine-year-old daughter told police she saw Nicoli run down a tile stairwell and onto a 35-centimetre kitchen knife Federico was holding. Federico was allegedly holding the couple’s newborn son in her other arm, he said.
“The victim then turned to the accused and said, ‘babe, you’ve stabbed me’,” Nobel said.
“She says ‘f***’, drops the knife and gets on the phone to St John”.
The court heard how the knife stabbed Nicoli in the thigh, puncturing his femoral artery causing him to suffer extensive blood loss.
Arguing for Federico to be released on bail, Noble said evidence would be produced before the court at a later stage from neighbours who claimed they heard “extensive arguments” in the 24 hours before the incident.
“The gentleman was heard to be telling this lady he was going to kill her, repeatedly,” he said.
Noble also said there was evidence that Nicoli, whose family attended the court hearing, removed an SD card from a CCTV camera at the property during the argument.
“[Federico] is the victim in this matter,” Noble said.
“A firm plea of not guilty will be maintained right through to trial.”
Noble lashed out at officers who approached Federico for a police interview at the prison where she was being held despite him notifying them she would not be participating in one. He also claimed police would be unlikely to secure a guilty conviction based on the evidence.
Noble said his client had rendered “extensive” first aid to Nicoli in an attempt to save his life before paramedics arrived.
But police prosecutors said Federico had a chequered past with drug use of her own and a history of breaching suspension orders and violence restraining orders.
They also said Federico had been on suicide watch since her incarceration on March 9.
“We have serious concerns for her own wellbeing,” they said.
“We believe she may attempt some self harm.”
The court later heard that Nicoli was on parole at the time of the incident and subject to urinalysis which allegedly returned a negative reading for drugs the day before.
Magistrate Kelly Thompson will deliver her verdict on the bail application on Friday afternoon.
Crisis support is available from Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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