An accused murderer says his partner was hit by a car, but bloody scissors found at his apartment might tell a different story.
Shane Stephen Tucker is charged with murdering Christine Dawson, 66, at an apartment in the eastern Sydney suburb of Maroubra in November 2024.
The 52-year-old was arrested in June, 18 months after the beloved grandmother’s body was found in his bed with fatal blunt-force injuries.
Details of the alleged murder were revealed in the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday as Tucker asked to be released on bail after four months behind bars.
He hadn’t called emergency services when he said he discovered Ms Dawson’s body or her being unwell at any time, Justice Belinda Rigg noted from the prosecutor's allegations.
Tucker’s claim that his partner had disclosed the previous night she had been hit by a motor vehicle was inconsistent with the post-mortem examination of her injuries, the judge said.
As well as the observations of neighbours, she said there was other evidence of violence, including a stab wound to Ms Dawson’s leg.
Her blood was found on scissors in the apartment, where the injury had clearly been caused due to the containment of blood and correlation with her clothing, Justice Rigg said.
Crown prosecutor Alex Morris told the court Tucker had a history of domestic violence offences, including a previous conviction for repeatedly kicking and punching Ms Dawson.
“That was a while ago,” Tucker told the court while rejecting the characterisation of the assault.
“I had a few problems with my drinking but not anymore.”
He had been on parole for that assault against Ms Dawson when he allegedly murdered her, the court was told.
When pressed by Mr Morris about his previous lack of compliance with bail conditions, Tucker argued he had drastically reduced his alcohol consumption and stopped associating with bad influences, even moving to a different suburb.
“I’ve changed my ways,” he said.
His solicitor Laura Melhuish contended he had made those changes of his own volition and had lived in the community for more than a year without reoffending before he was arrested.
“He has motivation and reason to stay out of trouble,” she told the court.
She highlighted his difficulties in jail, including threats from other inmates and lack of access to medication, as some of the reasons he should be released.
But Justice Rigg wasn’t convinced.
She dismissed his bail application.
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