A WOMAN has told a jury how she watched Ross Merrick gesticulate towards Marika Ninness in an East Maitland carpark before he “stood strong and tall and shoulders out” and punched her in the head.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Adellemaree Thomson gave evidence in Newcastle Supreme Court on Tuesday that she was parked about 110 metres away from the couple when she saw the blow just before midnight on December 7, 2013.
“I seen the man hit the woman and she was on the ground like that, like in an instant,’’ Ms Thomson said.
Earlier, Ms Thomson said she saw him use his right fist in a “hook punch” to “her face or head area’’.
“Just stood strong and tall and shoulders out and hit,’’ she said.
But under cross examination, the court heard Ms Thomson had given different descriptions of the blow to police and during a committal hearing, sometimes describing it as a “hook punch’’ and, at other times, a “jab” or straight punch.
Defence counsel Tania Evers also questioned Ms Thomson about why she had changed her descriptions of where the punch hit Ms Ninness, from the left side of her head to the right side.
“What you saw was a quick movement of the elbow?’’ Ms Evers asked.
“I could see his hand,’’ Ms Thomson replied.
“You could see his hand?”
“Yes”.
“And that’s from 110 metres away?”
“Yes”.
Mr Merrick, 32, has pleaded not guilty to murdering his girlfriend of eight months, arguing he had not meant to strike Ms Ninness with his elbow but that the action was a "conditioned response" to his military training after she had confronted him.
The prosecution alleges Mr Merrick intentionally hit Ms Ninness to either cause death or grievous bodily harm.
Ms Thomson told the court she watched the pair walk into Green Hills shopping centre carpark where “the male” had continually jumped in front of “the female” to try to stop her.
Earlier, William George, told the court he was waiting in the McDonald’s drive-through when he saw the couple having an argument as “the female’’ was walking backwards and telling “the male” to leave her alone.
He saw the woman walk into the carpark before the male returned, both making “hand gestures”.
He took his food and looked back to see the female on the ground.
The trial continues.
