Killer’s frightening message is heard in court in Ruth Mataafa’s Western Sydney murder

A murderer’s disturbing message written before he stabbed his partner to death exhibited ‘domestic violence at its worst’, a coroner has found. 

Communities and future victims need to look out for red flags, findings from the NSW coroner’s report into Ruth Mataafa’s death revealed this week.

The 22-year-old died during emergency surgery after she had been attacked at her ex-partner’s house at Bidwill in Sydney‘s west in May, 2020. 

Ruth Mataafa, 22, (pictured) died during emergency surgery after she was attacked at her ex-partner’s house at Bidwill in Sydney’s west in May, 2020

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The former boyfriend’s behaviour leading up the tragedy revealed he showed ‘acts of coercive control’, the Domestic Violence Death Review Team report said (pictured, the ex-boyfriend, who cannot be named for legal reasons)

On the day of the murder-suicide the man went to Ms Mataafa’s home and took her phone, which led her to his residence where his family lived (pictured)

The lead up to the tragedy revealed the man had possessive behaviours towards Ms Mataafa and was suicidal (pictured, the words of his suicide message discovered by police)

The former boyfriend’s behaviour leading up the tragedy revealed he showed ‘acts of coercive control’, the Domestic Violence Death Review Team (DVDRT) report said. 

Deputy State Coroner Erin Kennedy said behaviour patterns shown in partners in cases like Ms Mataafa’s should be recognised and not tolerated so potential violent acts can be avoided, the Daily Telegraph reported.

She said coercive control, emotional manipulation and ongoing violence should be talked about more openly. 

‘They should not be accepted, and they should be identified so persons who experience them can see them for what they truly are, warning signs,’ the court heard. 

‘Acts of coercive control’ were recognised as one behaviour her ex-partner showed, the DVDRT report said. 

Coercive control was a red flag for intimate partner homicide, occurring in 99 per cent of domestic violence homicides, the report said. 

The lead up to the tragedy revealed the man had possessive behaviours towards Ms Mataafa and was suicidal. 

Three days before the May 30 murder her ex-lover wrote a suicide note on his phone, which showed his jealous and possessive tendencies. 

‘I’m sorry everyone for what I did aye, I just didn’t want anyone to have Ruth aye,’ the message uncovered by police read. 

Her ex-partner stabbed Ms Mataafa (pictured) several times in the stomach in his bedroom, while a family member tried to intervene

‘Ruth is just too selfish to know that I’m the right one. I’m sorry aye, I just can’t bear to see Ruth with another guy even if he is ugly aye.’

On the day of the murder-suicide the man went to Ms Mataafa’s home and took her phone, which led her to his residence where his family lived. 

He then stabbed her several times in the stomach in his bedroom, while a family member tried to intervene. 

Is is understood he then turned the knife on himself.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, died at the scene from stab wounds to his chest.

Police believed his parents had been inside the house at the time of the attack.

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