A woman whose mother fatally shot her legally blind husband in the eye as he slept has told a court she still loves her mother, but doesn’t understand why she murdered her father.
Dale Vella was found guilty of shooting her husband Mark Anthony Vella with a double-barrelled shotgun at their Murrumbateman home in the NSW southern tablelands in August 2021.
At trial, NSW Supreme Court jury considered Vella’s state of mind at the time and whether she was substantially mentally impaired to warrant a manslaughter offence.
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The jury returned a verdict of guilty for murder the same day it retired.
At a sentencing hearing on Wednesday, the couple’s daughter Georgia Vella described her dad as a “larrikin”.
“He loved fishing, camping and all sorts of outdoor activities,” she told the court.
“My heart aches that we are all missing out on his love.”
She said her dad would have spoiled her two children, but never even got to meet them.
“His love would’ve been unconditional and it’s not fair that they will never be able to feel that love,” she told the court.
Georgia got married last year but told the court she didn’t have a wedding because her father was not there to walk her down the aisle.
She added she still feels love for her mother, but struggles to understand why she did what he did.
She acknowledged her mother’s depression but said “she still knew what she was doing”.
“I had no idea she could be capable of doing something like this,” she said.
“The anger and sadness are consuming at times.
“My world is smaller.”
‘Gross, severe’ murder
Georgia is not the only one struggling to understand, with Vella’s barrister and the judge who will sentence her both grappling for an answer on Wednesday.
The 54-year-old never denied killing her husband. She earlier pleaded guilty to manslaughter but the plea was rejected by the crown.
Her barrister Greg Hoare told the Supreme Court jury to find her not guilty of murder, arguing she had a substantial mental impairment at the time. The jury rejected that argument.
It was clear from the jury verdict her impairments did not prevent her understanding her actions, Hoare said, however he told Justice Helen Wilson she would have to weigh up whether it impacts her sentence.
The judge did not appear swayed by a psychologist’s report diagnosing Vella with post-traumatic stress disorder, when a forensic psychiatrist had not diagnosed the same.
“He just doesn’t have the qualifications,” Wilson said.
Hoare also argued there could be some consideration given to the fact Mark died instantly.
“That’s because it was such a violent way to kill a person,” the judge said.
Mark Vella’s injuries were “so gross, so severe”, and her motivation for inflicting them hard to determine.
Vella and her husband had been together for 23 years and suffered through a string of personal tragedies, including the death of a three-year-old daughter from brain cancer and Vella’s own breast cancer diagnosis.
Four days before the shooting, Vella had been prescribed antidepressants, was sleeping all day and not eating much.
Hoare earlier told jurors Mark had never been physically violent with his wife, but she had been the subject of coercive control.
He argued she attempted to end her life as a result of her husband’s manipulative behaviour but a mental impairment prompted her to shoot him instead.
Vella is due to be sentenced next week.
– With AAP
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.
If you need help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For further information about depression contact beyondblue on 1300224636 or talk to your GP, local health professional or someone you trust.