ROSA Maria Mercuri's Murder Debate

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Boy, 14, faces court on manslaughter charge Paul Millar and Maris Beck July 5, 2011 Street reels from stabbing A resident of Curtin Ave, where a woman was fatally stabbed, says the street has been targeted by vandals. Video feedback Video settings ROSA Maria Mercuri was a mother of three who loved to cook. Family and neighbours agree she was feisty and strong-willed. On Sunday night, when the family home was pelted with eggs by teenagers, she wasn't going to take it lying down. Ms Mercuri, her husband, Pat, and their 11-year-old daughter jumped into a car and took off in pursuit of up to five youths. Rosa Maria Mercuri at a New Year's party this year. What began as a minor dispute was to lead to tragedy - a stab wound left Ms Mercuri…show more content…
He looked straight ahead at his appearance in the Children's Court yesterday and did not even glance in the direction of his father, who sat in court looking at the floor and appeared to wipe away a tear. The boy allegedly admitted to police that he had suffered a head injury in a scuffle with Ms Mercuri. ''The knife that he was holding came back at him forcefully, causing injury,'' a homicide detective told the hearing. Police successfully applied to take a swab from the boy's mouth and to examine his head wound to compare with the blood-soaked top Ms Mercuri was wearing. He was bailed to re-appear at the court on October 3. Veteran homicide detective Sergeant Ron Iddles said before the hearing: ''The people have gone out to, I suppose, challenge them, find them, find the reason why they threw the eggs and, sadly, now one of them is dead - all over someone throwing eggs.'' A relative remembered how happy and beautiful Ms Mercuri had been at a New Year's party this year. ''It was the best party - we had a great time didn't we? Fireworks in the park on the corner.'' She said Ms Mercuri had a ''massive, kind heart'' and ''a lot of guts''. For Ms Mercuri's husband, who said he had not seen her stabbed, it was no comfort that someone had been charged. ''It's hard,'' he said, barely able to speak of what had happened. ''It doesn't bring her back,'' he
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