The Auckland mother of a man killed with an axe in Sydney says she's heartbroken after she tried to get her son out of his violent relationship.
Thirty-five-year-old New Zealander Geo Sione was found dead in his bed on Sunday.
News of his violent death has brought unfathomable grief for Mt Albert based Helen Sione, who has a sense she could've done more.
"No one deserves that and what comes through my mind is the pain... if there was any pain involved for what happened to him."
Geo left New Zealand with partner Naea Moli for a better life in Sydney's west.
It was in their home on Sunday morning that police allege she smashed Geo over the head with an axe as he watched a movie in bed.
Moli has been charged with murder.
Detective Inspector Jason Pietruska from the Nepean Police says "the scene was horrific, that's the only way it can be described."
CCTV shows Moli mid-morning Sunday outside their home calmly puffing on a cigarette.
A taxi pulls up and officers say she soon arrived at the station to make a chilling confession.
"Her demeanour was calm, she was matter-of-fact about what had occurred," says Det Inspt Pietruska.
Geo's mother says just last month her son took out a protection order against Moli.
He was no angel, she says - a year ago he was charged with assaulting the same woman.
Geo's Auckland family is disappointed with the Australian protection order system they claim failed him.
His mother says: "I know people have their own arguments and that but he was such a humble guy. He didn't deserve to die like that."
His alleged killer Moli has been denied bail.
Helen now faces the daunting task of sorting her son's funeral from afar - under COVID-19 restrictions.
