A man standing trial for murder told police he knew he was “f – ked” after bludgeoning his estranged wife to death with a 1.8kg sledgehammer, a court has heard.
Shaun Robert Sturgess pleaded not guilty to a single count of murder during his arraignment at the Supreme Court in Brisbane on Monday.
His plea to the alternative count of manslaughter was rejected by the Crown.
The Crown alleges Mr Sturgess killed his estranged wife, Jacqueline Sturgess, by hitting her in the back of the head with the sledgehammer at their Narangba home north of Brisbane on April 18, 2020.
The court heard that Mrs Sturgess, 45, had been at the family home to collect property, including a desk and some jewellery when she was killed.
Mr Sturgess told police during a recorded interview, which was played before the jury on Wednesday, that he had heard a “big thud” after he’d struck her with the sledgehammer.
“She’s such a narcissist, the way she talks to me, she continually f – ks with my brain,” Mr Sturgess could be heard saying when asked by police why he had struck her.
“I’m the d – khead because I let her tamper with my head and look where it’s got me.”
In the audio played before the court, Mr Sturgess cou...
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