A local father who stabbed his brother-in-law to death was yesterday described as a “peace-loving man”.
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In court yesterday several people yesterday paid tribute to the character of Paul Arthur Clark, describing him as hard working, honest, non-violent and a devoted family man.
“He is the type of man every community would be proud to have,” local schoolteacher Margaret McDonald told the NSW Supreme Court in Dubbo.
The jury heard the testimonies just a few hours after hearing the recording of the 000 call Mr Clark made after fatally stabbing Timothy Raymond McKinnon early on June 24 last year, after Mr McKinnon woke him and attacked him.
A tape of the 18-minute telephone call was played before the prosecution closed its case shortly after midday.
When the operator who took the call asked what was wrong the accused replied: “Oh, I have had this bloody idiot attack me, I bloody stabbed him.”
“Alright, how is he?” the operator questioned.
“Jesus, he is probably dead,” Mr Clark replied.
He told the operator Mr McKinnon “just knocked me bloody down at the door and he friggin’ jumped on me”.
“He just woke me up out of bed the prick.”
In the conversation Mr Clark described his brother-in-law as a “friggin’ asshole”.
The accused’s son, Paul Jnr, also talked to the operator, telling her Mr McKinnon was dead.
When asked if anyone was performing first aid Paul Jnr replied: “There is nothing we can do for him.”
At stages during the recording, Mr Clark’s wife could be heard crying in the background.
Mr Clark has pleaded not guilty to the murder.
The jury heard evidence about Mr McKinnon’s medical and criminal history.
The court was told he had a history of psychiatric problems and had threatened police.
Under cross-examination Detective Sergeant Gary Nixon, who investigated the 49-year-old’s death, was asked if Mr McKinnon could be described as a “nuisance”.
“With all due respect to the man - yes,” he replied.
Four character witnesses for Mr Clark gave evidence yesterday afternoon.
Bruce Comerford, who left his sick son’s bedside in Sydney to testify, said the accused and his wife arrived in Dubbo 21 years ago with nothing more than two suitcases.
The Clarks leased a shed on Mugga Hill from him and converted it into a home, living there for three years, he said.
He described Mr Clark as a good family man who worked hard to forge out a life for his wife and two children and eventually built his own home on a property about 20km south of Dubbo - the scene of Mr McKinnon’s death.
Mr Comerford broke down when defence solicitor Graham Lamond asked him about how Mr Clark cared for his wife through her long battle with cancer.
“I can’t imagine what Paul went through,” he said.
He told the court he was “extremely shocked to find out” Mr Clark was charged with murder and “found it difficult to fathom that he could have harmed anyone”.
Mr Comerford said the charge had not changed his good opinion of the accused. He also told the court he had put forward a “substantial” amount of money for Mr Clark’s bail.
Mrs McDonald, who employed Mr Clark at the Blue Lagoon Motor Inn as a maintenance worker, described him and his wife as “the original Australian battlers”.
The trial continues this morning.