National

Western Sydney stabber's jury discharged

By AAP Newswire

Feb 23, 2022

Supreme Court signage (file image) — The jury in the murder trial of Jay Lupton has unable to reach a verdict. -AAP Image

The jury in the murder trial of a western Sydney man accused of jealously stabbing his partner's friend while high on ice has unable to reach a verdict.

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Jay Lupton is accused of murdering Hady Jaouhara in Feburary 23, 2020 in the backyard of a Lethbridge Park house in western Sydney.

Lupton denied the stabbing took place outside and said it occurred in self-defence after he was attacked by two drug users.

Following three days of deliberation, the NSW Supreme Court jury on Thursday was unable to reach a verdict and formally discharged.

The Crown alleged the 30-year-old deliberately stabbed Mr Jaouhara, a friend of Lupton's girlfriend Sherie O'Neill, because he was enraged at his saving her name alongside "beauty" in his phone.

Lupton also was allegedly fed up with "junkies and drama" circulating about the residence.

But Lupton's defence barrister Angus Webb submitted that an argument erupted between his client and ice users in the Magellan Avenue home in which Lupton was assaulted.

Just before midnight Lupton then picked up a knife which was "unfortunately used" in self defence.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press