Elise Walker, 34, entered her guilty plea in the Supreme Court in Melbourne on Friday.

She was originally charged with murder in relation to the death of Matthew Johnston, 37, in their home in Pauline Court, Kangaroo Flat.

At a bail hearing in Bendigo in September, the court was told Walker was in fear of her life from Mr Johnston, who had previously threatened violence with a baseball bat with nails and barbed wire attached.

Mr Johnston was described as regularly entering a “rant and revenge cycle”, and would speak about beating people with the baseball bat.

A psychologist’s report will be completed on Walker before the plea hearing, which will be held in Bendigo on March 23.

The court was told there remained some dispute over the “mechanics” of the stabbing, but it was likely to be resolved before the plea hearing.