Vic woman admits to manslaughter of cousin

Murder charges against a 40-year-old Melbourne woman have been withdrawn after she pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her cousin.

A Melbourne woman has admitted to killing her cousin by stabbing him at her home last year.

Lisa Marie Clark, 40, of Ringwood, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Rodney Leo Clark.

She had originally been accused of murder, but this charge was withdrawn once her plea was entered in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

According to documents tendered in court, Mr Clark arrived at the woman's house about 7.30pm on Saturday, June 14, and the pair argued.

Mr Clark, who had been drinking before going to the house, assaulted the woman's partner William Wescombe and a 21-year-old man, the court documents say.

The woman then picked up a kitchen knife and threatened Mr Clark in order to get him to leave the house.

Her ex-partner Calvin Louwsma was also at the house.

He ushered Mr Clark out through the front door.

The woman then went to the front door and stabbed her cousin once to the upper chest, the court documents say.

Police and ambulance officers were called to the scene but Mr Clark was dead by the time they arrived.

The woman was arrested at the scene.

Her lawyer told the court the arrest was her first time in adult custody, and she suffers from anxiety and depression.

Clark did not apply for bail.

She will appear before the Supreme Court on January 19.

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Source: AAP


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