Murder victim Susan Sarkis. Source: Twitter
THE last 15 minutes of a young woman's life have been chillingly captured on CCTV, with a court yesterday playing the final confrontation between her and the flatmate now accused of her murder.
Clear but silent footage of Susan Sarkis's death, taken from three angles, was tendered to Central Local Court yesterday as Katherine Abdallah failed in her attempt to be released on bail while awaiting trial.
The court heard Ms Sarkis, 21, was stabbed to death on February 9 during a 90-minute fight with Ms Abdallah at their Brighton-le-Sands townhouse, which allegedly started after the victim drove Ms Abdallah's car without permission.
"We are watching the life of ... the deceased leave us on the DVD," Ms Abdallah's barrister Gregory Stanton told the court during yesterday's application. "It is both morbid and surreal to watch what unfolds, it is a rather chilling scenario."
The violence between the pair was allegedly sparked by Ms Sarkis slapping 31-year-old Ms Abdallah across the face, with the footage showing the women screaming and gesturing at each other. Ms Sarkis is then seen to lift a vase above her head before smashing it on the floor and trying to leave the house, only to be stopped by Ms Abdallah.
The footage then shows Ms Sarkis drop her handbag, jump over the couch and throw more than a dozen punches at Ms Abdallah while also kicking her in the stomach.
After a sustained attack on Ms Abdallah by Ms Sarkis, Ms Abdallah walks to the kitchen, arming herself with two knives. Ms Sarkis is stabbed in the stomach as she lunges towards Ms Abdallah.
The next images showed Ms Abdallah walk back into the lounge room, followed by her flatmate who collapses on the floor less than 30 seconds after she was stabbed.
Ms Sarkis died almost instantly, most likely from a cardiac arrest, Mr Stanton said.
"I can see, and every person in this court can see, what occurred," Mr Stanton told the court, adding his client had been "subjected to irrational, tempestuous and serious violence by the deceased".
"In those circumstances, to pick a knife in relation to a fist fight was not unreasonable," he said.
The court heard yet-to-be completed toxicology tests will reveal if Ms Sarkis was affected by the drug ice at the time of her death.
Crown prosecutor Thomas Spohr said the pair had previously come to blows over the use of the car.
"(Ms Abdallah's) response was to go to the kitchen and pick up two knives," Mr Spohr said. "In the circumstances, to pick up a knife in response to a fist fight is not reasonable." Magistrate Elizabeth Ryan said Ms Abdallah's claim of self-defence was thrown into doubt by the CCTV footage and refused bail.
Ms Abdallah, who has yet to enter a plea, will reappear on May 30.
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