Korp's lover planned 'murder pack', court told

By Jesse Hogan
August 2, 2005 - 5:39PM

Tania Herman planned to make a "murder pack" in the weeks leading up to the attempted killing of her lover's wife Maria Korp, a court has heard.

The items detailed on the handwritten list _ found in the rubbish bin of her daughter's bedroom _ included a knife, balaclava, gloves and a backpack.

All were used in the February 9 attack on Mrs Korp, who was left for dead in the boot of her car at the Shrine of Remembrance.

The evidence was heard in a committal hearing for her husband Joseph William Korp, 47, who is contesting an attempted murder charge for the attack.

Herman, 34, was convicted and jailed for 12 years in June after pleading guilty to strangling Mrs Korp in the garage of the Korp family home at Mickleham.

She was given leave from prison to testify against Korp at today's hearing at Melbourne Magistrates Court, claiming he planned the attack.

But defence lawyer Michael Tovey, QC, claimed the list - which Herman said was written six to eight weeks before the attack on Korp's instructions - was proof that Herman had acted alone.

Two hour testimony

Herman, who wore a black top and pink jacket, was cross-examined by the defence for more than two hours.

Korp, who is on bail, sat in the front row of the court while Herman testified. She repeatedly looked at Korp while giving her testimony but he appeared to avoid eye contact.

Herman said she never bought any of the items written on the handwritten list, which Mr Tovey dubbed a "murder pack".

She told magistrate John Hardy that Korp had shown her a backpack containing the items the night before the attack, but that she was not fully aware of his plan for her to murder Mrs Korp until she was driven to the family home at Mickleham the next morning.

"He came over and told me this was the only way he could get out of his marriage (and) not to let the bitch out of the garage alive," she said.

'Motivated by hatred'

Herman also testified that Korp had told her to take specific items, such as a wallet, from his wife's handbag after the attack.

"I knew what he was wanting because I knew what Maria was holding over him."

But Mr Tovey questioned Herman's story, alleging the plan to murder Mrs Korp was devised by her alone and "motivated by hatred".

He said that Joe Korp's sister, Val Korp, told police that Herman had said to her: "I have never hated anyone like I have hated Maria".

In response, Herman said she did not hate Maria, and had never made any threats against her.

"How can you hate someone that you don't know?"

Herman claimed Korp's family hated Maria to the point that when she met his parents for the first time, his mother brought out her son's wedding photos "with Maria's face scratched out".

Conflict claim

Mr Tovey said there was a crucial clash between Herman's testimony and police statements made by her brother, Stephen Deegan, who gave evidence yesterday.

Mr Deegan alleged that days before the attack, Herman had told him of her plan to kill Maria and dump the body at the Shrine.

Herman was adamant she had not planned the details of the murder. She also believed she did not tell her brother about the attack when, less than an hour later, he drove her home.

"When you are in panic mode you tend to waffle on sometimes," she said.

She claimed her brother's recall of events could have been hampered by an acquired brain injury, but Mr Tovey disputed this.

Colin Hillman, SC, for the prosecution, questioned Herman for less than five minutes. When he asked Herman why she attempted to kill Mrs Korp, she reiterated it was because Korp said it was the only way they could be together.

The pair were arrested on February 16 this year after initially denying their involvement. Korp has since maintained his innocence.

Mrs Korp is in a permanent unresponsive state at The Alfred hospital. Doctors were last week ordered by public advocate Julian Gardner to stop feeding her or administering fluids via a tube.

Mrs Korp is expected to die within a week.

The hearing continues.

- theage.com.au
