A WOMAN accused of the murder of an 18-year-old Central Coast man said "I'm going to f---ing kill him” just moments before the man was stabbed to death, Newcastle Supreme Court has heard.
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Rachel Manevski, 22, has pleaded not guilty to murder and accessory after the fact to murder over the death of Kieran Priestland, 18, at Niagara Park in February, 2014.
During his opening address, Crown prosecutor Brendan Campbell told the jury Ms Manevski was responsible for the murder of Mr Priestland because she was part of an agreement or understanding between herself and co-accused Andrew Perkins to, at the very least, cause Mr Priestland very serious injury.
“The crown alleges Kieran Priestland died because a person called Andrew Perkins and this accused decided to kill him,” Mr Campbell said. “They obtained a knife or knives, ran to the car and Mr Perkins stabbed him to death. “For her role in that, that she joined in that offending, this accused is therefore charged with murder.”
Mr Campbell told the jury Mr Perkins, Ms Manevski and Mr Priestland’s former girlfriend were drinking at Mr Perkins’ mother’s house on the night of February 12, 2014.
Mr Priestland and his former girlfriend had been arguing over the phone and on Facebook, before Mr Priestland showed up at the home.
He left, but returned later at the request of his former girlfriend.
Mr Campbell said he expected the jury would hear Ms Manevski and Mr Perkins had rummaged through a kitchen draw before running outside to Mr Priestland’s car.
“[Mr Priestland’s former girlfriend] saw both Andrew Perkins and Rachel Manevski at the driver's door of Mr Priestland’s car,” he said.
“She saw them run back inside. “She went to the passenger side of the car and she saw Mr Priestland still in the driver's seat with his seat belt on, car running, but he was soaked in blood.”
Mr Campbell said a forensic pathologist determined Mr Priestland had suffered nine stab wounds, including six to the chest.
There were three very serious wounds to the chest and lower neck, including one that penetrated Mr Priestland’s heart and caused his death, Mr Campbell said.
Police found a knife wrapped in a blue cloth hidden in the backyard.
Mr Priestland’s DNA was on the blue cloth.
