In what has been described as a “shock move”, the Crown prosecution introduced a friend of Miss Harnum to give evidence at Gittany’s sentence hearing in Darlinghurst today.
The woman, who knew Miss Harnum from beauty college and had previously been in an abusive relationship, only came forward after the prosecution closed its case last year.
She told how the attractive 31-year-old Canadian had confided that if she left Gittany, “he’d kill her”. Miss Harnum also asked her how and why she had left her abusive relationship, the court heard.
The new witness cried as she recounted daily death threats made against Miss Harnum, who allegedly feared Gittany would poison her food and if he killed her, “make it look like suicide”.
She had also feared he was tracking her finances and would find her if she fled, the friend said. She said she’d offered Miss Harnum money in a bid to help.
Gittany’s barrister condemned the claims as “fabricated”, while Gittany mouthed “seriously” and shook his head as the evidence was revealed.
In earlier drama, Gittanny’s current girlfriend Rachelle Louise led a silent protest of his friends and family, wielding various placards proclaiming his innocence.
They included signs saying “How do you render some 1 unconscious in less than 65 secs without any trauma on the body?” and “Why was Lisa still holding her handbag and how if she was unconscious?”
In court, the witness explained that she thought there was an ample amount of people who had known what happened and that there had been enough evidence at the trial without her.
In a victim impact statement, Miss Harnum’s mother Joan appealed for Miss Harnum’s ordeal and death to be treated as a “cry around the world” to stop men’s violence against women.
Gittany’s sentence hearing is expected to continue into Thursday, before Gittany’s sentence is handed down in coming weeks.
Gittanny’s girlfriend Rachelle Louise speaks to Sunday Night in an exclusive interview airing this Sunday at 6.30pm on Channel 7.
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