Tara Marie Morrison’s bloodied body found in wardrobe after being allegedly murdered by jealous ex-lover
Two people are on trial for murder after allegedly violently stabbing a woman in their home and stuffing her dead body into a wardrobe.
The bloodied dead body of a woman allegedly murdered by her ex-lover and her ex-lover’s new boyfriend was found stuffed into a wardrobe, a trial has been told.
Hannah Louise Glover, 30, and James Anthony Sorgiovanni, 29, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Tara Marie Morrison, 38, at home in Western Australia in April 2024.
The pair are accused of violently and repeatedly stabbing Ms Morrison in her head, neck, body and hands at their Busselton home, about 220km south of Perth.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“The knives that were used to stab Tara were directed mostly to her neck and chest area,” prosecutor Michael Cvetkoski told the Western Australian Supreme Court on Wednesday.
“The stabbing was sustained with the intention of ending Tara Morrison’s life.”
Police found Ms Morrison’s blood was splattered on the walls, doors and floor after Glover’s mother raised the alarm in concern for her daughter, now accused of murder.
“We will be saying the deceased didn’t have an opportunity to arm herself because it was two against one,” Mr Cvetkoski said.
“What she had was her hands to defend herself and her hands were torn up.”
After allegedly murdering Ms Morrison, Glover and Sorgiovanni dumped her partially clothed and bloody body inside a child’s bedroom.
Police body-worn camera footage played to the court showed her body slumped inside the wardrobe and blood splattered throughout the modern suburban home.
Officers initially believed the dead woman was Glover.
“They had no idea the deceased was Tara Marie Morrison,” Mr Cvetkoski said.
Glover and Sorgiovanni were captured on CCTV later fleeing the home on a scooter after they allegedly turned on the gas in the home in a bid to burn it down.
A neighbour later reported hearing a woman screaming for about half an hour.
“The screaming sounded like a woman was in pain and distress ... before it suddenly stopped,” Mr Cvetkoski said.
“The deceased was screaming while she was being attacked.”
“She was screaming in pain … fighting for her life.
“During the 30 minutes of screaming, blood made its way onto the doors, floors and walls of almost every room.”
Ms Morrison’s bloody palm print was found on the home’s front glass door.
“She was attempting to escape … attempting to get out of that house whilst she was being attacked,” Mr Cvetkoski said.
“She had no hope.”
Investigators found a clump of Ms Morrison’s hair in the kitchen sink, along with the home’s security system, which Glover allegedly tried to burn in a bid to conceal evidence.
They also found three knives and sheaths allegedly used to stab Ms Morrison.
One was in a washing machine, another in the kitchen sink.
Glover’s palm print and the dead woman’s blood were found on some of them.
When Sorgiovanni was arrested, he was allegedly found with a further two knives, one of which had Ms Morrison’s blood on it.
A pair of blood-soaked gloves, allegedly worn by Glover during the attack, were also found at the home.
As was Glover’s blood-covered hoody and a Michael Jordan number 23 Chicago Bulls singlet, which was splattered in blood.
The court heard Glover and Sorgiovanni started their relationship less than two months before Ms Morrison was killed.
Before that, Glover was in a sexual relationship with Ms Morrison, Mr Cvetkoski said.
The trial continues.
