Accused murderer says he was acting in self-defence

Rocky Russo, 35, went to Matthew Salau's home in Melbourne's southeast to stop him threatening a female friend over a $5000 debt, a Victorian Supreme Court jury was told on Tuesday. 

But prosecutors allege Russo brought a knife to the June 2024 confrontation and he murdered Mr Salau by intentionally stabbing him to the chest and back. 

Russo argues he is not guilty of murder, that Mr Salau was the one to produce the knife and he only stabbed the 30-year-old while defending himself. 

The court was told two days before the alleged murder, Mr Salau went to the home of Russo's female friend, demanding $5000 he was owed. 

He returned the next day with a large meat cleaver, once again making demands for the money and followed up the visit with a series of threatening texts. 

The woman told Russo about the demands, and he and another man went to Mr Salau's Frankston home to confront him late on June 10, 2024. 

Prosecutors allege during the altercation, which lasted four minutes and 21 seconds, Russo stabbed Mr Salau with a knife to the chest and back. 

In his police interview, Russo said Mr Salau produced the knife during the argument, and swung it at him but it hit the table and fell to the ground. 

He told officers he picked it up and Mr Salau struck him to the head so he swung back at him in return, forgetting he was still holding the knife.

Russo said Mr Salau was still conscious and agreed to stop harassing the woman before he left the scene shortly after 11.30pm.

Mr Salau's housemates went into the kitchen and after realising he was bleeding, called triple zero.

Paramedics declared the 30-year-old dead at the scene just before midnight.

Crown prosecutor Nadia Kaddeche told the jury Russo attended the property armed with the knife and he stabbed Mr Salau with the intention to kill or cause really serious injury. 

But defence barrister David Cronin argued his client was acting in self-defence and the jury would need to properly consider his state of mind before returning a verdict. 

The trial before Justice Amanda Fox continues.

Australian Associated Press