Vic: Man grabbed mother-in-law months before death, inquest

AAP General News (Australia)
02-01-2006
Vic: Man grabbed mother-in-law months before death, inquest

MELBOURNE, Feb 1 AAP - The son-in-law of a woman who was brutally killed in her home
had manhandled her months before her death, a Melbourne inquest heard today.

Marea Yann (Marea Yann), 69, was bludgeoned to death in her Healesville home, north
east of Melbourne, on September 29, 2003.

An inquest into her death started today at Melbourne Coroners' Court.

In a statement read to the court, her son Jeffrey Yann said his mother phoned him in
April 2003 and said her son-in-law James Unumadu had been physical with her, grabbing
her and throwing her out of the house a few days prior.

Mr Yann visited the Frankston South home of his sister Pauline and her husband after
his mother said she was concerned Mr Unumadu was assaulting his wife, the court heard.

Mr Yann said that after he confronted his brother-in-law about "manhandling" his mother,
Mr Unumadu produced a knife and attempted to grab him by the throat.

The court heard Mr Unumadu and his wife later told police Mr Yann was the aggressor
in the incident and took out a restraining order on him.

Mr Yann said his mother believed her son-in-law was an evil man and she wanted her
daughter to leave him, the court heard.

Mr Unumadu appeared at the beginning of today's inquest, but coroner Paresa Sparos
excused him from giving evidence after she was advised he did not wish to take part in
the inquest.

The inquest, which is expected to last three days, continues.

AAP mf/szp/gfr/evt/de

KEYWORD: YANN

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