WA murder accused claims self defence

A PERTH man accused of repeatedly stabbing an acquaintance then slitting his throat while he was tied up, claims the home invasion killing was self-defence.

Dominic Calabro, 40, is on trial in the West Australian Supreme Court accused of murdering Andrew Minh Tran, 29, at Calabro’s Balga home in July last year while they were both affected by methylamphetamine.

The court heard Calabro lived alone but had up to 50 people visiting his home every day to “chill out”.

Prosecutor David Jubb said the night before Mr Tran died he had been assaulted and stabbed by someone else.

The next day, he was driven to Calabro’s property and Mr Jubb said a witness would testify they saw Mr Tran punch Calabro in the jaw before going inside to seek drugs.

Calabro allegedly told Mr Tran he would “pay” for what he had done at the front door, which Mr Jubb described as “prophetic words”.

Mr Jubb said Mr Tran was tied up, beaten and repeatedly stabbed in the chest, back and thighs before he finally had his throat cut in the lounge room.

He said the injuries were inflicted in a “painful, prolonged and brutal” way.

Three knives, a tow hook and garden pruner were among the items later seized.

As Mr Jubb detailed the injuries inflicted on Mr Tran, members of the public wept and had to leave the courtroom.

Mr Jubb said it was a clear case of murder rather than self-defence, adding there was nothing necessary or reasonable about Calabro’s actions.

After the killing, Calabro visited his ex-partner and two children.

He later tried unsuccessfully to explain what happened before finally calling police to tell them there was a body at his house and he would wait for officers at a fast food outlet.

“I just got pushed too far and I just had enough,” Calabro told police.

“It was either going to be him or me.

“Nobody touches me without consequences.”

Defence counsel Simon Freitag said Calabro admitted killing Mr Tran and that no one else was involved but claimed he acted in self-defence against a home invader and therefore the killing was lawful.

The trial continues.