Young woman acquitted of murder in Mildura trial

A young woman was acquitted of murdering her boyfriend's friend after a jury found her not guilty. The incident took place on October 21, 2023, in Mildura. The woman, who was 17 at the time, stabbed 18-year-old Seb O'Halloran during a violent altercation. O'Halloran had intervened in a fight between the woman and her boyfriend. He was trying to help when he was fatally stabbed in the chest. Earlier that night, the woman had been using cocaine and learned her boyfriend had cheated on her. In anger, she damaged his clothes and car. When her boyfriend returned home with O'Halloran to break up with her, a heated argument ensued. The woman punched her boyfriend, and he pinned her down multiple times. During the struggle, she grabbed a kitchen knife. O'Halloran stood between them, and after asking him to move, she stabbed him when he did not comply. The woman's lawyer argued that she acted in self-defense due to past violence from her boyfriend and O'Halloran's aggressive behavior. The prosecution, however, claimed she intended to harm O'Halloran. The jury of twelve deliberated for several days. On March 12, they returned with a not guilty verdict on both murder and manslaughter charges. After hearing the decision, Justice Rita Incerti informed the woman it was time for her to go home. The young woman, now 19, cried tears of relief and embraced court officers. Her family, who supported her throughout the trial, also celebrated the verdict. She left the court free of charges.