A woman accused of murdering her friend with a cyanide-laced coffee in Jakarta has denied she had legal problems in Australia and disputes evidence she was seeking revenge over a break-up with her Sydney boyfriend.
After months of hearing evidence from a litany of witnesses, including forensic experts, police and psychiatrists, the 27-year-old former Sydney resident Jessica Kumala Wongso sat with a microphone in hand and began telling her side of the story.
As live television cameras rolled, she took questions from the three judges presiding over her trial, as well as prosecutors.
At the heart of the prosecution's case against Wongso is the claim she murdered her friend Wayan Mirna Salihin on January 6, following the breakdown of the former's relationship with her Australian boyfriend Patrick O'Connor.
Prosecutors allege Mirna objected to him and that when the pair did split, Wongso killed her to "avenge her pain".
But Wongso told Central Jakarta District Court that she never told Mirna any details about Mr O'Connor.
"I only told her that I was close with someone. That's all. I didn't tell her who he was or his name."
She also denied evidence she had "legal problems" when she was living in Australia.
On Monday, NSW Police Senior Constable John Torres from NSW prosecutions command read out 13 police reports from 2014 to 2015 involving Wongso while she lived in Australia.
The majority were reports related to Wongso's attempts at self-harm.
But two recorded allegations of driving while under the influence, including one incident when she drove into a nursing home in August last year.
Sen Const Torres also said Mr O'Connor had taken an "urgent" restraining order out against Wongso in the months before she returned to Jakarta in January.
A court hearing was set for February but at that time Wongso was in custody in Jakarta for the alleged murder of Salihin.
"You answered when the police asked were you in any legal trouble and you said you have never been in legal problem. You want to stick to this statement?" prosecutor Shandy Handika asked her.
"Yes. I have never been involved in crime," Wongso replied.
It comes after a statement from Wongso's former boss at NSW Ambulance Kristie Carter was read to court, in which Ms Carter described the 27-year-old as a woman with "two personalities".
While working as a contract designer for NSW Ambulance, Wongso was hospitalised for self-harm in October 2015.
Ms Carter told Indonesian police Wongso had said: "These bastards in this hospital didn't allow me to go home and they treated me like a murderer. If I want to kill someone, I know for sure how I could get a gun".
The trial continues.
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.
Multicultural Mental Health Australia www.mmha.org.au.
