Lawyers for Dinush Kurera, 47, whom prosecutors allege had no injuries after the attack, told a jury on Wednesday he admitted he killed his wife but he did so to save his own life.
"He grappled with her over the knife, in her murderous rage, and he defended himself and the deceased was killed," defence barrister John Desmond told 14 jurors.
"Rage met rage."
Nelomie Perera was found in a pool of blood in her kitchen with 35 separate injuries, after Kurera allegedly killed her in front of their children in December 2022.
Mark Gibson said Dinush Kurera was fuelled by hatred after his wife said she wanted a divorce. (Erik Anderson/AAP PHOTOS)
Kurera has pleaded not guilty to her murder and further denies assaulting his 17-year-old son.
Prosecutor Mark Gibson KC alleged on the first day of the Victorian Supreme Court trial that Kurera was fuelled by a "deep-seated hatred" for Ms Perera when he killed her, after she told him she wanted a divorce and he discovered she was seeing other people.
He said Ms Perera, 43, had discovered Kurera was cheating on her with another woman while he was on a trip in Sri Lanka and ended their marriage over the phone.
She told him he could no longer stay at their family home, organised a storage unit where she moved his belongings and was fearful about his return home to Melbourne, Mr Gibson alleged.
About two days after he flew home, on December 3, 2022, Mr Gibson said Kurera went to Bunnings Warehouse and purchased a 30cm crowbar and a fibreglass hatchet.
About 10pm, Kurera went to a petrol station and purchased a lighter and a 10-litre jerry can which he filled with petrol, the prosecutor said.
Kurera then drove to the family home in Sandhurst, in Melbourne's southeast, used the crowbar to break through the fence while wearing dark clothing and gloves.
"Mr Kurera, under the cover of darkness, approached Nelomie, taking her by surprise as she was about to have a cigarette on the back patio area," Mr Gibson said.
He alleged Kurera then struck his wife in the head with a hatchet, which Mr Desmond said Kurera denies, and their two teen children ran down to their mother's screams.
The family then moved to the living room where the estranged couple argued before Mr Gibson claimed Kurera again hit Ms Perera with the hatchet, which Kurera also denies.
Their 17-year-old son tried to run for help, but Mr Gibson alleged Kurera chased him and hit him with the axe.
Mr Desmond said Kurera denies assaulting his son.
"It just didn't happen," the defence barrister said on Wednesday.
Mr Gibson alleged Kurera, Ms Perera and their 16-year-old daughter moved to the kitchen where he grabbed a 30cm long kitchen knife and stabbed her.
But Mr Desmond said this was a "stark issue" for the jury to decide in the trial as Kurera claimed it was Ms Perera who came at him with the knife.
"Nelomie took the opportunity when it arose to get the kitchen knife and came at the accused in a wild rage, violently swinging this large kitchen knife at the accused, trying to kill him," he said.
"He did what any person would do and was entitled to do in those circumstances - he defended himself."
The trial before Justice Amanda Fox continues.
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