Simon Gittany entering the Downing Centre Courts / Pic: Tim Hunter Source: The Daily Telegraph
SHE was a glamorous former dancer and he was the man she credited with forever changing her life for the better.
But within months of a surprise marriage proposal in front of a rapturous gathering, Canadian Lisa Cecilia Harnum was allegedly forced off a high-rise balcony by the same man who had knelt before her with a ring in his hand.
Simon Gittany, 39, yesterday faced a committal hearing in Downing Centre Local Court which will decide if he will stand trial for murdering the 30-year-old, who plunged to her death in July 2011 from the balcony of the apartment they shared in the exclusive The Hyde building.
Prosecutors allege Gittany - who they claim was a jealous and controlling partner - pushed or threw Ms Harnum from the 15th floor of the complex in Sydney's CBD after a heated argument.
Video - accused posts surprise engagement video online
A neighbour heard a woman screaming, "God help me, help me" before the death, the court was told.
Crown prosecutor Daniel Noll said Gittany was seen on CCTV grabbing Ms Harnum around the neck and pulling her back into the apartment with his hand across her mouth about a minute before he emerged again - this time alone.
"At that stage, we say, (Ms Harnum) has died on the pavement below," he said.
But a series of amateur videos posted on YouTube last year under Gittany's name show a different side to the allegedly troubled relationship.
In a clip at her 30th birthday party, the slightly-built ballerina covers her face in her hands before smiling and nodding her approval as he proposes, with the couple then embracing as the audience applauds.
"He has changed my life and made me a better person inside and out, and I am truly grateful," Ms Harnum said.
Gittany's barrister Anthony Bellanto QC said there still seemed to be "some speculation" from police about how Ms Harnum could have been forced off the balcony, which featured glass barriers and metal bars. Ms Harnum suffered from eating and sleep disorders and was taking medication with side effects that included irrational behaviour, the court heard. Gittany has pleaded not guilty to murder.
The committal continues today.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Long fall from joy to tragedy
Dengan url
http://pesbukeronline.blogspot.com/2013/01/long-fall-from-joy-to-tragedy.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Long fall from joy to tragedy
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar