'I found her like this': Man accused of bludgeoning his girlfriend to death denies murdering her – as court hears he had 'threatened to cave her head in'

  • A man accused of bludgeoning his girlfriend to death has denied murder
  • Onitolosi Etuini Atiai Latu, 30, is on trial for the murder of Rhonda Baker in 2016
  • A court heard Ms Baker, 26, 'lived in fear' of Latu's threats to 'cave her head in' 
  • Latu claimed he 'found' Ms Baker with facial bruises and frothing at the mouth
  • He gave four 'completely and utterly contradictory' alibis, crown prosecutor said

By Australian Associated Press and Laura Hedges For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 18:06 EST, 7 November 2018 | Updated: 18:25 EST, 7 November 2018

A woman allegedly bashed to death by her boyfriend in a Sydney apartment block was living in fear of him and his threats to 'cave' her head in, a jury has heard.

Onitolosi Etuini Atiai Latu, 30, is on trial in NSW's Supreme Court after pleading not guilty to murdering Rhonda Baker, who died in Liverpool Hospital on August 7, 2016.

In his opening address on Wednesday, crown prosecutor Guy Newton said the 26-year-old suffered facial fractures and a brain bleed 'that ultimately caused her to die'.

Onitolosi Etuini Atiai Latu (pictured), 30, is on trial after pleading not guilty to murdering his girlfriend Rhonda Baker in August 2016

Onitolosi Etuini Atiai Latu (pictured), 30, is on trial after pleading not guilty to murdering his girlfriend Rhonda Baker in August 2016

There was an AVO (Apprehended Violence Order) in place at the time but it allowed the pair to live together, Mr Newton said.

He said the 'on-again, off-again' couple exchanged emails about three weeks before the alleged murder in which Latu allegedly expressed he was 'not happy' with Ms Baker over past incidents he 'regards as infidelity'.

Ms Baker allegedly wrote: 'I'm trying to do the best I can right now for us and this relationship but it's hard, especially when you're going off at me and making threats.

The 'on-again, off-again' couple exchanged emails about three weeks before the alleged murder in which Latu allegedly expressed he was 'not happy' with Ms Baker (pictured), 26, over past incidents he 'regards as infidelity' 

The 'on-again, off-again' couple exchanged emails about three weeks before the alleged murder in which Latu allegedly expressed he was 'not happy' with Ms Baker (pictured), 26, over past incidents he 'regards as infidelity' 

 Latu's anger towards his girlfriend had 'reached boiling point, a jury was told

 Latu's anger towards his girlfriend had 'reached boiling point, a jury was told

'I can't keep living in fear like this every time something happens.'

She asked 'wouldn't you be in fear too?' over threats he allegedly made such as 'I'm going to cave your head in'.

The prosecutor said the relationship 'had reached boiling point' in terms of Latu's anger towards his girlfriend.

The jury will be played a triple-zero call made by Latu at 4.24am in which he was instructed to administer CPR.

Ms Baker allegedly wrote: 'I'm trying to do the best I can right now for us and this relationship but it's hard, especially when you're going off at me and making threats. I can't keep living in fear like this' 

Ms Baker allegedly wrote: 'I'm trying to do the best I can right now for us and this relationship but it's hard, especially when you're going off at me and making threats. I can't keep living in fear like this' 

She asked 'wouldn't you be in fear too?' over threats he allegedly made such as 'I'm going to cave your head in'

She asked 'wouldn't you be in fear too?' over threats he allegedly made such as 'I'm going to cave your head in'

He allegedly told a paramedic, who saw Ms Baker on the hallway floor with facial bruises and pink fluid frothing from her mouth, 'I came home to find her like this ... while I was asking her what happened, she had a seizure'.

Latu gave four 'completely and utterly contradictory' versions of his whereabouts that night, Mr Newton said.

He was only wearing underwear and allegedly told police he had decided to shave his head at 4am.

Officers allegedly found blood throughout Ms Baker's car - parked under the unit - including on a headrest, window, the exterior and a fire escape door.

Latu allegedly told a paramedic - who saw Ms Baker on the hallway floor of their shared apartment (block pictured) with facial bruises and pink fluid frothing from her mouth - 'I came home to find her like this ... while I was asking her what happened, she had a seizure'

Latu allegedly told a paramedic - who saw Ms Baker on the hallway floor of their shared apartment (block pictured) with facial bruises and pink fluid frothing from her mouth - 'I came home to find her like this ... while I was asking her what happened, she had a seizure'

Ms Baker died in Liverpool Hospital (pictured) on August 7, 2016

Ms Baker died in Liverpool Hospital (pictured) on August 7, 2016

A number of her family and friends are expected to give evidence, including her mother, who Mr Newton says will testify she saw her daughter had arm bruises in April 2016 and asked if 'he' had 'been hitting' her again.

The prosecutor expects the jury will hear Ms Baker had replied that she couldn't leave Latu because he had made threats to 'get' her family and burn her grandpa's house down.

About a week before her death, the young woman allegedly told a colleague at Dial A Dump Industries that she was planning to move in with her parents, Mr Newton said.

Barrister Gregory Woods QC will open the defence case on Thursday, with the trial expected to last four weeks. 

Latu gave four 'completely and utterly contradictory' versions of his whereabouts that night, a court heard. Barrister Gregory Woods QC will open the defence case on Thursday

Latu gave four 'completely and utterly contradictory' versions of his whereabouts that night, a court heard. Barrister Gregory Woods QC will open the defence case on Thursday

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Man accused of bludgeoning girlfriend death denies murder court hears he ‘threatened cave head in'

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