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Hung jury in trial of man accused of Busselton love-triangle murder

39h

Summary

  • James Anthony Sorgiovanti, 29, is on trial for the murder of Tara Morrison, whose body was found in his Busselton house in 2024.
  • The jury could not reach a unanimous verdict and was discharged; Sorgiovanti faces a retrial.
  • His girlfriend and co-accused Hannah Louise Glover pleaded guilty to murder part-way through the trial.
  • Glover, formerly Morrison's girlfriend, gave evidence that she stabbed Morrison while saying Sorgiovanti held her during the attack.
  • The court heard Morrison was killed in a frenzied 'love triangle' attack, with methylamphetamine and GHB used on the night.
  • Morrison had been visiting the house Sorgiovanti shared with Glover and was planning to stay.

Reactions

  • Glover told the jury Sorgiovanti held Morrison while she attacked her, but that he stabbed the victim last.
  • Sorgiovanti's lawyer Lisa Boston argued he was under the influence of drugs and could not effectively stop Glover's attack.
  • Prosecutor Michael Cvetkoski told the jury a wound to Morrison's left hand was defensive and that her right hand was restrained.
  • A prisoner testified that Glover confessed to the killing in prison, and under cross-examination said Glover first made no mention of Sorgiovanti.
  • The prisoner said Glover told her Sorgiovanti grabbed her in a 'bear hug' and tried to drag her away.

Timeline newest first

  1. The jury in James Anthony Sorgiovanti's murder trial over Tara Morrison's death was discharged after failing to reach a unanimous verdict; he faces a retrial.
  2. Prosecutor Michael Cvetkoski told the jury in closing submissions that Tara Morrison's left hand injury was a defensive wound and her right hand was restrained.
  3. Hannah Louise Glover gave evidence describing how she stabbed Tara Morrison in several locations inside the Busselton house she shared with James Anthony Sorgiovanti.
  4. Hannah Louise Glover pleaded guilty to murdering Tara Morrison part-way through James Anthony Sorgiovanti's trial, after an inmate said she confessed in prison.
  5. The court heard Tara Morrison was killed in a frenzied 'love triangle' attack, with methylamphetamine and GHB used on the night.
  6. Tara Morrison's body was found stuffed in a wardrobe at the Busselton house James Anthony Sorgiovanti shared with Hannah Louise Glover in 2024.

Sources newest first

  • Hung jury in trial of man accused of Busselton 'love triangle' murderabc.net.au· 39h

    The jury in James Anthony Sorgiovanni's murder trial over Tara Morrison's death, whose body was found in his Busselton house in 2024, failed to reach a verdict and he faces a retrial. His co-accused girlfriend Hannah Louise Glover pleaded guilty, gave evidence incriminating him, while his lawyer argued he was drugged and could not stop her attack.