Drunk man 'beat partner to death'

A man used his fists and feet to kill his partner at the end of a day-long drinking session, a Supreme Court jury sitting in Broome has been told.

Dennis Cox, 51, is charged with the murder of his 47-year-old defacto, who cannot be named for cultural reasons, after she annoyed the defendant by swearing at him and calling him names.

They had been drinking at a spot in Derby known as the marsh near Panton Street on April 30 last year when “alcohol fuelled violence” was unleashed on the woman by the accused.

During her opening address this morning, Amanda Burrows, prosecuting, said Mr Cox punched and slapped the woman in the face and hit her with a shopping trolley when it appeared she fell to the ground and he “jumped” on her head.

Ms Burrows said the pair floated from house-to-house in Derby and had been together for about three years.

She told the jury that an ambulance arrived at the scene about 9.20pm and that the woman had no pulse, was cold to touch, and was unresponsive.

Despite attempts to resuscitate her, she was pronounced dead by a doctor at Derby Hospital at 9.45pm.

The woman had been bleeding from her nose and mouth and had several teeth missing.

She had severe head injuries including facial lacerations and bruises, multiple fractures including the jaw bone, and bleeding around the brain that Ms Burrows said was caused by trauma.

The deceased woman was 165cm tall and had a blood alcohol reading of .262 per cent at the time of her death.

Dominic Brunello, defending, said his client had admitted to manslaughter and that it was up to the State to prove intent.

“He admits he killed her. He admits what he did was unlawful,” he said.

Mr Brunello said the event was an alcohol-fuelled episode of aggression and violence.

“At the end of the day it was proverbial rivers of grog on the mudflats of Derby,” he said.

The trial continues.