Achi news desk-
A killer drove towards his girlfriend and a group of people who came to her aid two months before stabbing her to death in her own apartment.
The new domestic violence details were heard when Ricardo Barbero appeared before the Victorian Supreme Court on Thursday for a pre-sentence hearing.
Police found her body five days later with stab wounds and a cut to her neck.
Prosecutor Damien Hannan said two months earlier, in February 2020, Barbero and Price had an argument in a car in Melbourne’s north after spending the day drinking.
She “escaped” from the vehicle and Barbaro drove towards her and a group of other people who came to her aid, Hanan said.
Barbero pleaded guilty to the incident and was jailed for one month, the prosecutor told the court.
But Barbero’s lawyer, Rishi Nathwani, said his client pleaded guilty on the basis that he did not attack Price.
The attorney admitted there was an incident in November 2019 where Barbero damaged a car while Price was inside because he was angry about not having contact with his children.
Nathwani agreed it was a form of domestic violence, even if Price was not directly harmed.
The defense also conceded that domestic violence was an aggravating feature of the murder, as was the use of a knife and stabbing in Price’s own home, where she was entitled to feel safe.
He also noted Barbero’s conduct after the killing, where he left the scene in Price’s Mercedes Benz before dumping the vehicle at the Diggers Rest property, north-west of Melbourne.
Barbero fled to NSW in a van after the media reported that Price’s body had been found.
Judge Stephen Kay said it was clear that Barbero’s behavior after the murder showed a “patent absence of remorse”.
“It doesn’t stand up to him at all,” said the judge.
The pre-sentence hearing was adjourned for a neuropsychologist’s evaluation report.
Barbero was remanded in custody until his next court date in September.
