A grandmother allegedly stabbed her husband to death in a desperate act of self-defence after trying to stop him from taking his own life, a court has heard.
Caroll Hopkinson, 58, appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court via video link from custody on Tuesday, charged with the murder of her husband Simon in their Taperoo home in Adelaide’s west on July 7.
The court heard that Hopkinson, a mental health nurse, called emergency services after allegedly stabbing her husband during a tussle with a knife.
Her lawyer Jeff Powell told the court that she woke up on the morning to a strange noise coming from the bathroom.
Hopkinson allegedly found Simon, also a mental health nurse, trying to end his life, the Adelaide Advertiser reported.
Panicked, she ran to get a knife to stop him but an ‘aggressive’ Simon then turned on her, according to her lawyer.
‘She understood his reaction to be “why are you stopping me from something that I need to do”. That is how she interpreted his reaction,’ Mr Powell told the court.
‘He took the knife from her and assaulted her. She had cuts on her hands from trying to defend herself. There was a struggle, and then she took the knife back.’
Caroll Hopkinson, 58, is seen being escorted away by police officers after her husband was found dead in a western Adelaide home
Simon then lunged at his wife, who allegedly stabbed him in fear of her life.
‘It happened in a matter of moments, in a panic, early in the morning and there was no premeditation or planning about it. She had no idea what was happening in her household when she got up,’ Mr Powell told the court.
The court heard that she immediately called her daughter and then police, who arrived about 20 minutes later and found her in the ‘unfortunate position’ of having ended her husband’s life in act of self-defence.
Police allege Hopkinson had blood stains on nightgown when they arrived.
Neighbours expressed their shock after learning of the death, telling The Advertiser the couple seemed like ‘normal, happy people’.
Neighbours expressed shock at the horrifying news saying the couple had seemed ‘normal, happy people’
The court heard that Caroll Hopkinson killed her husband Simon (pictured), in self-defence
Mr Powell asked the court to release Hopkinson on bail, noting the ‘unusual’ features of the case meant she was not a danger to the community.
However, prosecutors argued the seriousness of the charge should keep the accused woman in custody.
Chief Magistrate Mary-Louise Hribal ordered a home detention report, and will make a decision on bail next month.
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