Three of Joseph Manyang’s children drowned, but he believes the woman who allegedly drove them to their death, is innocent.
Mr Manyang defended Akon Guode, who is accused of murdering their three children after the car she was driving plunged into a lake, saying she would never hurt the children.
"She was lovely to them,” he testified at a committal hearing at Melbourne Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
“She was a lovely mother, she loved the children. She was good to them."
My Manyang said Ms Guode, 36, never threatened to harm him or the children.
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"Even me, I'm still believing Akon didn't do it.”
Akon Guode is charged with the murder of her 16-month-oldbaby and 4-year-old twins.
She’s also charged with attempted murder of their 6-year-old daughter, who was also in the car, but survived.
Police said Ms Guode deliberately drove them into a Wyndham Vale lake in Melbourne’s West, on April 8, 2015.
Mr Manyang told the court that Ms Guode had said a dizzy spell caused her to veer in to the lake.
He has visited her while she has been in custody, but every time they discuss the children, Ms Guode breaks down, he added.
“That's why I want to make sure from her she didn't do it."
Mr Manyang is a distant cousin of Ms Guode's husband, who was killed fighting in the Sudanese war.
The men grew up in the same tribe, but Mr Manyang didn't meet Ms Guode until she arrived in Australia, and they began a de-facto relationship.
Mr Manyang told the court he had a stable relationship with Ms Guode, and that he would take her out on occasions.
He said he believed the children were happy, and he would visit them at least once a week.
He testified that Ms Guode never threatened harm to him or the children.
"We were good, we loved each other, we love the kids. There was no problem"
The defence questioned whether Ms Guode was ostracised from the Sudanese community because of their relationship.
Mr Manyang's wife was also called to give evidence.
She said she was angry after learning Mr Manyang had children with Ms Guode, but she denied earlier allegations she’d harassed Ms Guode over the phone and visited her house and yelled abuse at her.
Ms Guode had four children with Joseph Manyang.
The court heard Ms Guode suffered headaches and high blood pressure and that she often spent time alone.
The committal hearing will last two weeks.
