Man found guilty of murdering Irish wife in Sydney

A man who repeatedly stabbed and cut the throat of his Northern Ireland-born wife has been found guilty of murder.

The body of Comrie Cullen (39), from Bangor, Co Down, was found by a passerby on grass in January 2014.

She had 18 stab wounds, including two deep cuts down to her vertebrae and a broken nose.

Her estranged husband, Christopher Cullen (51) was arrested after he emerged from mangroves at an anglers club in the suburb of Taren Point.

Ms Cullen had taken out an apprehended violence court order against her husband and had been receiving counselling.

Speaking outside the New South Wales supreme court, Ms Cullen’s friend Renee Jomaa said the trial had been “a harrowing time for those close to Comrie and her wide circle of friends”.

“Her death is devastating for us and it will leave a profound impact on our community,” she said.

“Many of her loved ones are too overwhelmed to be with us today. The trial detailed Comrie’s brave battle as a victim of domestic violence and a terror she did not escape.”

Another friend and former employer, Christina Acriuli said “the truth has won today. Unfortunately three little children have no mummy.”

A few months before her death, Cullen ordered his wife out of their home and threatened to kill her, accusing her of having an affair.

Cullen was captured on CCTV buying two knives and a black t-shirt from a fishing shop.

He admitted inflicting the injuries that caused his wife’s death, but pleaded not guilty to murder on the grounds of self-defence and provocation. His guilty plea to the lesser charge of manslaughter was rejected by prosecutors.

The jury was told Ms Cullen was taken from an apartment complex in the boot of the car later found at Taren Point.

Nick Baastrup (25) told the court Ms Cullen lived with him for two months after she left her home. They had met at a nightclub.

Witnesses gave evidence Ms Cullen told them she had been physically abused by her husband.

One friend, Diane Murphy, said: “Comrie had mentioned to me that her husband had pinned her to the fridge and strangled her till she was blue in the face.”

Cullen had also gone to the beauty salon where his wife worked and held up signs saying his wife was sleeping with clients.

Cullen had stab wounds when he was arrested. He told police: “I think one of them might have been from her and the ones around the heart were from me.”

His barrister Winston Terracini told the court his client had been a well-liked and hard-working man. “The accused did not have a plan to kill the deceased,” he said.

He will be sentenced at a later date.