Uncle 'worried and scared' after fatally stabbing sistergirl, court hears
The Northern Territory Supreme Court is hearing the murder trial of Andrew Mungatopi, who is accused of fatally stabbing his 37-year-old niece, a Tiwi Islands sistergirl, in Darwin in October 2024. Mungatopi has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, arguing he lacked intent to cause death or serious harm. Testimony from his partner, Tanita Donald, described Mungatopi as intoxicated and angry after the victim used a nickname for her. She stated he ran outside immediately after the incident, crying and urging others to call police. A neighbor, Patricia Nundhirribala, testified that she found Mungatopi holding the victim, appearing worried and scared while requesting an ambulance. Forensic evidence confirmed the cause of death was a single stab wound to the chest that penetrated the heart and lung, inflicted with moderate force. The prosecution rejected the manslaughter plea, leading to the ongoing trial where conflicting accounts of the altercation and Mungatopi's state of mind are being presented to the jury.
Wire timeline
Uncle 'worried and scared' after fatally stabbing sistergirl, court hears
The Northern Territory Supreme Court is hearing the murder trial of Andrew Mungatopi, who is accused of fatally stabbing his 37-year-old niece, a Tiwi Islands sistergirl, in Darwin in October 2024. Mungatopi has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, arguing he lacked intent to cause death or serious harm. Testimony from his partner, Tanita Donald, described Mungatopi as intoxicated and angry after the victim used a nickname for her. She stated he ran outside immediately after the incident, crying and urging others to call police. A neighbor, Patricia Nundhirribala, testified that she found Mungatopi holding the victim, appearing worried and scared while requesting an ambulance. Forensic evidence confirmed the cause of death was a single stab wound to the chest that penetrated the heart and lung, inflicted with moderate force. The prosecution rejected the manslaughter plea, leading to the ongoing trial where conflicting accounts of the altercation and Mungatopi's state of mind are being presented to the jury.
Just In