Murder trial begins

A WOMAN accused of killing her partner in a Babinda park was allegedly heard by family members saying she would “send you back in a box” after stabbing him repeatedly with a kitchen knife.

A court heard that Michelle Loretta Cooktown, 25, was also allegedly heard by family saying “here comes my taxi” when police showed up at the park after the daylight killing, which occurred a short distance up the road from her family’s home.

On the opening day of her trial in the Cairns Supreme Court, Ms Cooktown pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but not guilty to murdering Northern Territory man Galvin Furber, 23, on December 12, 2018.

The court heard the pair had been living in Mt Isa, but were staying with her family in Innisfail and Babinda for several days to attend some funerals.

Crown prosecutor Nathan Crane told the court the couple had a tumultuous relationship, fuelled by jealousy and violence, which was witnessed by multiple members of her family during their stay.

Mr Crane said that in one instance, Ms Cooktown asked her mother if Mr Furber had “made a pass at her” while they were staying with her at Flying Fish Point.

The court heard the pair also stayed with her uncle in Babinda, and on the day of Mr Furber’s death, the couple walked to the nearby park and sat on a metal bench, where she allegedly stabbed him.

The alleged broad daylight stabbing was witnessed by Ms Cooktown’s 18-year-old brother, Isaiah, from the house, Mr Crane told the court.

“He saw she started to raise her voice and yell,” he said. Mr Crane said Isaiah then saw her move her hand towards Mr Furber’s face and chest before he moved away suddenly. The court heard Isaiah, along with Ms Cooktown’s uncle and his partner, then raced to the park.

“They saw (Mr Furber) holding a stick in apparent self defence in one hand and his bunched up shirt in another,” Mr Crane said.

“(He then) walked to a tree and collapsed, where he inevitably died.”

Mr Crane told the court the family also reported that Ms Cooktown told her sister: “It’s lucky you got the knife, I would do it again”, and said she was “smiling and smirking” while her family attempted to revive him.

The court was told Ms Cooktown’s uncle performed CPR until police arrived and took over. Constable Troy Deacon said he arrived to find a woman sitting in the gutter while two other people performed CPR.

He said he overheard a group talking with the woman in the gutter and someone asked “why did you do it?” before another person replied: “f--- that (expletive), he deserved it”.

The trial continues today.