Qld: Man pens letter after murdering partner, court heards

AAP General News (Australia)
02-19-2007
Qld: Man pens letter after murdering partner, court heards

The Brisbane Supreme Court has heard a man penned a letter to his family saying he'd
screwed up .. after stabbing his de facto wife and driving interstate with her body in
the front seat.

PAUL JOSEPH HAYDON from Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast has pleaded not guilty to murdering
AMANDA FALCONER in July 2004.

But the 52-year-old baker has pleaded guilty to an arson charge .. after burning down
their home at Regatta Waters on the same night.

Crown prosecutor DAVID MEREDITH has told the court HAYDON became bitter after he and
Ms FALCONER's two-year relationship broke down.

Mr MEREDITH says HAYDON intended to kill her and to commit suicide.

He told the court .. HAYDON stabbed Ms FALCONER in the chest during a domestic dispute
.. leaving a six centimetre-deep wound .. before setting fire to the home.

HAYDON then allegedly drove to New South Wales with Ms FALCONER's body in the front
seat of his car .. before driving the car into a gully on the outskirts of Grafton.

The court heard police retrieved HAYDON from the vehicle but the car burst into flames
before they could get to Ms FALCONER's body.

Mr MEREDITH says in a letter posted to his family the next day .. HAYDON stated he
couldn't stand the thought of living without Ms FALCONER .. and asked them to understand
it was him who screwed up.

HAYDON also allegedly called his son PHILIP and the police .. admitting to killing
Ms FALCONER before driving the car into the gully.







The court's also heard the victim had taken out a domestic violence order against HAYDON
before her death .. which resulted in him having to move out of the family house.

Mr MEREDITH told the court Ms FALCONER's daughter ELIZABETH had also overheard HAYDON
saying to her mother .. he was going to get back at her by killing her three daughters.

The trial continues before Justice MARGARET WHITE.

AAP RTV jvb/pjo/els/tm

KEYWORD: HAYDON (BRISBANE)

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