Woman jailed for fatally stabbing her boyfriend in Kangaroo Flat on Christmas Eve

Elise Walker, 34, was sentenced in the Supreme Court in Bendigo on Wednesday after pleading guilty to manslaughter over the stabbing of Matthew Johnston, 37.

The two had been in a “turbulent” relationship for about three years after Walker moved in with Mr Johnston in his Pakenham home.

Related: ‘He handed me that knife’: Elise Walker says victim introduced knife to fight

After periods of homelessness, the couple moved in with a friend on Patricia Court in Kangaroo Flat in 2016.

Neighbours described hearing an argument between the pair throughout the afternoon of December 24, 2016, before seeing Walker getting dragged back into the house by her hair.

She then stabbed Mr Johnston by swinging a 27-centimetre knife to the right side of her body and backwards, with the knife held around the height of her upper arm and shoulder.

The exact position of the two when the stabbing occurred was unclear, but the prosecution accepted that Walker “did not intend to kill Mr Johnston or cause him really serious injury”.

Walker told police Mr Johnston gave her the knife and told her to do it.

He had walked around the house for 10 minutes before losing consciousness. Neighbours reported seeing Walker leave the house covered with blood, demanding someone call police and an ambulance.

Police arrived at the house at 6pm, about half an hour after the stabbing occurred. They attempted CPR but Mr Johnston was declared dead shortly after.

Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth said it was clear that Walker was “fearful” of Mr Johnston in the moments leading up to the stabbing.

“You were fearful and wanted to get out of the house for a little while, to diffuse the tension; he kept preventing you from leaving,” she said.

“Mr Johnston introduced the knife into the fight, handing it to you and goading you to ‘f---in’ do it’.

“You took the knife and swung your arm in his general direction, to get him away from you, not looking at where your arm was actually going.”

Justice Hollingworth said Walker was “genuinely remorseful” and she had shown concern for Mr Johnston’s wellbeing.

“Despite the somewhat abusive nature of your relationship, it is clear that you genuinely loved Mr Johnston, and are devastated at having killed the person whom you regarded as your soulmate,” she said.

Walker was jailed for seven years with a non-parole period of four years. She has served 459 in custody.

Matthew Johnston’s mother, father and sister attended the plea and sentencing hearings after travelling to Bendigo from Townsville.

His sister, Jessica Johnston, said the fatal stabbing had broken “a link in our family chain”.

“Matthew Johnston was a cherished son, brother and father and to have him taken from us in such a violent manner is something we will never recover from,” she said.

“Matthew invited the accused and her children into the home he owned shortly after they met as she was homeless and had no where else to go.

“Ultimately, this act of selflessness would lead to his tragic death.

“Matthew may have made some bad decisions, but that didn't make him a bad person. He certainly did not deserve to lose his life as a consequence.”

The family described Mr Johnston’s love of bush walking and the outdoors, signified by his pursuit of a career as an arborist.

They thanked responding police officers who attempted CPR, the paramedics, the homicide squad and crown prosecutors.