Trial of accused murderer Bradley Wayne Trussell underway

MURDER TRIAL STARTS: The Mount Gambier Courthouse.

By Molly Taylor

THE man accused of murdering young Mount Gambier mother Eden Kennett appeared in the Supreme Court today where it was revealed a lacerated liver caused by blunt force trauma led to the 25-year-old’s death.

Bradley Wayne Trussell, 29, appeared before Justice Anne Bampton in a hearing at Mount Gambier Courthouse, pleading not guilty to a charge of murder.

During opening addresses, prosecution alleged overnight between December 12 and 13, 2018, Ms Kennett – Mr Trussell’s domestic partner – was deliberately assaulted.

At around 6.45am on December 13, Ms Kennett – slumped in a wheelchair – was wheeled into the Mount Gambier Hospital emergency department unconscious and received immediate emergency treatment.

Prosecution said evidence showed Trussell and his sister had taken Ms Kennett to the emergency department.

“She was unconscious, appeared to be suffering from seizures, had vomit in her hair and was covered in bruises from head to toe,” the prosecutor said.

Ms Kennett was airlifted to the intensive care unit of the Royal Adelaide Hospital but never regained consciousness.

“She was declared brain dead at 8.50am the following day, December 14, 2018.”

Prosecution said an autopsy revealed Ms Kennett died as a result of a laceration to the liver, which led to internal bleeding and caused a lack of oxygen to the blood and brain.

Health professionals also observed multiple injuries to Ms Kennett including head trauma, fractured ribs and 43 bruises, all believed to be caused by blunt force trauma.

The prosecutor alleged in the week leading up to Ms Kennett’s death, she was subjected to at least two separate “beatings” by the accused, which could be proved by a histological examination.

“Examination of the more recent injuries are indictive of Ms Kennett being struck multiple times, including with the use of a pole or stick of some sort,” she said.

“The fatal laceration to the liver was caused at some point during the course of that beating.

“Laceration to the liver was likely caused by blunt force trauma, on prosecution’s case, a punch, kick or strike of some sort.”

It was alleged Ms Kennett had also been assaulted sometime in the early hours of December 7, 2018, which resulted in bruising on both her arms and eyes and led to her being bed-ridden with vomiting for a number of days.

“Prosecution’s case, it was whilst suffering the earlier beating, already injured and particularly vulnerable, the accused inflicted the fatal beating upon Ms Kennett,” the prosecutor said.

“In other words, he has deliberately assaulted her and at the very least to cause her grievous bodily harm and in doing so caused her death.”

A phone belonging to Mr Trussell was seized during his arrest, which revealed a number of text messages to his sister in the days before Ms Kennett’s death.

Prosecution said the most significant was a message sent to Mr Trussell’s sister at around 5.30am on December 7, 2018, asking her to collect Ms Kennett as he had “hurt her enough” and he “couldn’t do it anymore”.

An experienced crime scene examiner attended the home of Mr Trussell and Ms Kennett on December 14 with the examination uncovering evidence of a violent altercation.

“Blood was located throughout the kitchen, on floors and walls, walls and door frames in the hallway and door, walls, seat, bed frame and pillows in the bedroom,” the prosecutor said.

“Swabs of the blood-like stains revealed a hypothesis Ms Kennett was a contributor to those profiles.

“Chunks of hair, which prosecution submit Ms Kennett’s hair, were found on the floor in the kitchen.

“A long wooden stick was also located in the kitchen, which prosecution submitted was out of place and consistent with the type of item which could have inflicted injuries.”

Mr Trussell was arrested and has remained in custody since the alleged offending.

He admitted in a police interview a physical altercation with Ms Kennett had occurred, which involved kicking the victim and shoving her to the floor.

Defence counsel submitted the only issue he had was the reference of “beatings” as the relationship involved violence from both parties, with Ms Kennett a perpetrator as well as a victim.

Witness testimonies started in court this afternoon with the trial expected to continue until Wednesday.