Vic: Mother pleads for mercy for son who murdered wife

AAP General News (Australia)
02-18-2006
Vic: Mother pleads for mercy for son who murdered wife

The mother of a 39-year-old Melbourne man .. who stabbed his wife to death in front
of their eight-year-old daughter .. has pleaded with a judge to show mercy on her son.

PAUL MARGACH killed his wife .. TINA .. by stabbing her 20 times .. in the couple's
suburban Ascot Vale home in October 2004.

After about two days of deliberations .. a Victorian Supreme Court jury of six men
and six women found him guilty of murder on Wednesday.

During the 10-day trial .. the defence argued MARGACH was guilty of manslaughter and
not murder because he didn't intend to kill his wife .. and was provoked by the mistaken
belief she had been unfaithful.

PAUL MARGACH'S mother .. IVY .. took the witness stand yesterday at her son's pre-sentence
hearing .. saying her son didn't mean to murder his wife.

She's described him as a gentle and caring family man.

MARGACH remains in custody for sentencing at a date to be fixed.

AAP RTV mf/dk/jt/de/wz/goc/

KEYWORD: MARGACH (MELBOURNE)

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