NSW: Man denies murdering much older live-in lover

AAP General News (Australia)
04-21-2009
NSW: Man denies murdering much older live-in lover

By Margaret Scheikowski

SYDNEY, April 21 AAP - A jeweller accused of murdering his much older lover hysterically
screamed "Mario is not dead, Mario is not dead" while being held by police, a jury has
been told.

Friend Raymond Carter said he was called to the police station where Philip Wan Por
Leung was being held, but could hardly get a coherent word out of his friend.

Other than repeatedly sobbing "Mario is not dead", Leung said only that he and 72-year-old
Mario Guzzetti had argued while Leung was making a carrot juice.

"Mario kept at me," he allegedly said.

Leung, 48, has pleaded not guilty in the NSW Supreme Court to murdering Mr Guzzetti
on April 7, 2007, at the home they shared at Alexandria, in inner Sydney.

Prosecutor Nanette Williams said the crown alleged Leung struck Mr Guzzetti a number
of times and applied significant pressure to his neck area.

She said she expected the crown medical witness would say the cause of death was "blunt
force head and neck injury".

Mr Carter, who had previously been in a relationship with Leung, said he was close
to both men, who were "very kind and loving" to each other.

He said Leung had never attacked or hit Mr Carter, and he had never seen him be violent
or throw anything.

"The most violent thing Philip would do was slam the door," he said.

Mr Carter said Leung had been a talented jeweller, portrait artist and wood carver,
but was crushed when he lost sight in one eye in 2005, affecting his work.

He had never heard Mr Guzzetti complain that he was going to end his relationship with
Leung and the three of them had tentative plans to travel to China later in 2007, he said.

Enzo Guzzetti, who came from Italy to give evidence, said his older brother had "never
hurt anyone" and had been a good, compassionate person who loved the opera and reading.

In her opening address, Ms Williams said Mr Guzzetti met Leung in about 2004, and the
men were listed as joint tenants of Mr Guzzetti's Alexandria home.

Ms Williams said a friend of the couple would give evidence saying Mr Guzzetti told
him he wanted to sell the house and end the relationship with Leung.

The court was told a neighbour would give evidence that on the morning of the death,
she heard a sound like a shelf falling with pots and pans on it.

"She then heard a sound like a singing note which lasted for about 10 seconds after
which there was silence," Ms Williams said.

"About 10 minutes later she heard what she described as hysterical screaming and crying.

"She identified the source as being the accused."

The trial is continuing before Justice Stephen Rothman.

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