Killer terrorised ex before murder

Selina Bello (centre) with her family at the WA Supreme Court for the sentencing of James Payet. Picture: Bohdan Warchomij Source: News Corp Australia

A PERTH court has heard how the man who stabbed his ex-wife to death and attacked his pregnant stepdaughter in a Como hair salon had terrorised his former spouse for months before her murder.

James Bill Payet appeared in the Perth Supreme Court this afternoon where he formally pleaded guilty to murdering Angela Ferullo, 43.

He also officially admitted to grievous bodily harm against Ms Ferullo's 23-year-old daughter Selina Bello and wounding customer Peggy Kew as they tried to intervene in the frenzied attack.

As well, Payet pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of liberty and bodily harm with intent against Ms Ferullo's housemate Laurence Kemp.

James Bill Payet, who has pleaded guilty to murdering his ex-partner, Angela Ferullo, in her Como hairdressing salon.

Ms Bello was five months pregnant at the time and she has since given birth to a healthy baby boy, Emilio.

Payet faces a life jail term and will learn his fate on Friday.

During today's sentencing hearing, prosecutor Linda Petrusa told the court how Payet had waged a violent campaign against his ex-wife before the fatal attack on June 24 last year.

Angela Ferullo was murdered in her Como Salon in June 2013.

The couple had a violent marriage and had broken up two years before Ms Ferullo was killed.

The pair had been in a 12-year relationship and, although they separated in 2011 after Ms Ferullo had an affair, she allowed him to live in her house.

In March 2013, Payet had come to Ms Ferullo's home and threatened her with a hunting knife, telling her he would slit her throat if she told the police.

In the months leading up to June 24, Payet also sent a series of abusive texts to Ms Ferullo over her parenting of her youngest daughter.

He also sent texts to Ms Bello, and the two women were told by Payet that he would "decimate" anyone who crossed him.

Ms Petrusa said on one occasion, Ms Ferullo spent a night with her new boyfriend in a hotel and when Payet found out he went on a rampage.

She said Payet burnt Ms Ferullo's wedding dress and made her believe her had disposed of her mother's ashes.

Ms Petrusa said on June 23, Payet got into Ms Ferullo and Mr Kemp's home without them knowing, hiding in the roof space with two hunting knives, water, food and Ms Ferullo's mother's ashes.

Selina Bello with her baby son. Picture: Channel 9 Source: Supplied

The next morning – the day she was murdered – Ms Ferullo had planned on filing a violence restraining order against Payet. She went to her daughter's hair salon so that after Ms Bello was finished with a customer, the two could go to court and file the documents.

When she left home, Payet came down with the two knives and started to threaten Mr Kemp for information about where his ex-wife was.

Mr Kemp eventually managed to escape by jumping a fence, but Payet came after him.

Mr Kemp only got away after throwing his mobile phone at Payet and running off a second time.

Payet then borrowed a friend's car, telling him he was picking up a motorcycle, but instead drove to Ms Bello's salon.

As he arrived, his stepdaughter tried to lock the front door while her mother ran to the back.

Payet came inside asking Ms Bello where her mother was, and when she said she did not know, he grabbed her by the throat and threw her to the ground.

Ms Petrusa said Ms Bello pleaded "Dad, Dad, the baby don't."

Ms Ferullo came out, throwing herself on her daughter and Payet started to strike her.

Hair salon customer Peggy Kew, who tried to fend off James Payet as he attacked Angela Ferullo, at the Supreme Court today. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper Source: News Corp Australia

What ensued was a violent attack that left Ms Ferullo with wounds to her arms, chest, lungs and abdomen. The fatal blow was a stabbing wound to her left upper limb.

During the attack, Ms Bello's customer Peggy Kew tried to intervene and was hit to the jaw by Payet.

Ms Petrusa said Payet then turned the knife on himself before running off, only arrested after he went to hospital for treatment later that day.

The court was told a 72-hour police intervention order – meant to offer some measure of protection to Ms Ferullo – was in place at the time of the attack.

But Ms Petrusa said Payet's life sentence should include a tough non-parole period, saying the attack was persistent and particularly cruel because it was witnessed by the victim's daughter and others were hurt.

Payet's counsel Laurie Levy said his client had genuine remorse for his crimes. He said Payet had come from a physically and emotionally violent family, subjected to routine humiliations from his father because of his bed-wetting.

He said he had a history of domestic violence, depression and drug use – both illicit and prescription, including steroids.

Mr Levy said at the time of the attack, Payet had come off his anti-depressant medication.

He said Payet had tried killing himself soon after the murder and when he failed he turned his phone on and got a message from his son. His son told him he would much rather visit his dad in prison than not at all.

Flowers laid outside the scene of the Como hair salon in June last year. Picture: File image Source: News Limited

In February, after Payet pleaded guilty in the Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court, Ms Bello posted on Facebook that her family could "finally move forward from the hell we have endured."

"Mum, not a day goes by that we don't think about you and the great loss we have experienced, hopefully now you can rest easy knowing that justice has and will be served love you always x," she wrote.

In an interview with A Current Affair, Ms Bello said her mother had a premonition that her ex-husband would end her life.

"There were times when she did sort of say 'He's going to kill me' or 'He's going to hurt me, Selina'," she said.

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