Woman denies stab attack

CHARGES OVER DAUGHTER-IN-LAW INCIDENT

A WOMAN in her 50s has denied stabbing her daughter-inlaw during a heated argument at their family home – in a trial where the jury will have to decide which woman to believe.

Golafrouz Nazari, 56, is standing trial in the Supreme Court of Tasmania after pleading not guilty to two counts of wounding at Goodwood on December 4, 2019.

The court heard Ms Nazari, who was assisted by a Farsi interpreter, did not have a “particularly pleasant” relationship with her daughter-in-law.

The Crown prosecutor said Ms Nazari’s son and his wife had come to live with the family after moving to Tasmania in 2018.

The court heard on the day in question, the two women were home alone, when Ms Nazari approached the younger woman, accusing her of having sexual relations with another person and claiming she had videos of the alleged acts.

The daughter-in-law asked Ms Nazari to show her the videos, the Crown prosecutor alleged, with Ms Nazari approaching her and the woman pushing her chest to keep her away.

The Crown said Ms Nazari went to the kitchen and reappeared, stabbing the woman with a knife to the chest, then attempting to strike her again, but cutting her thumb.

The woman noticed she was bleeding, and phoned her husband – who arrived home and called an ambulance.

Both women were taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital.

Ms Nazari claims her daughter-in-law’s version of events was not accurate – asserting the younger woman had punched her and kicked her body and struck her with a utensil. Ms Nazari said she fainted and did not know what happened.

Defence lawyer Brittany Clark said little was agreed between the two women about what actually occurred.

“They lived together and the relationship between the pair wasn’t a friendly one – that part is agreed,” she said.

“There was a short period of time on the afternoon of December 4, 2019 in which they were home alone together, that part is agreed, and there has been an altercation between the pair.”

Ms Clark said injuries were suffered by both women, but what happened during the altercation was disputed, arguing the only physical contact between them was “instigated and perpetrated” by the complainant.

Ms Clark said if Ms Nazari made contact, it was in lawful self-defence and how the younger woman received her wound was “entirely disputed”.

“It’s what is called a credit trial, because essentially it is one person’s word against another,” she said.

The trial continues.