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The Trial: Australia
The Story of Nikkita Azzopardi
Season 2, Ep. 13
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On October 2024, 35-year-old Nikkita Azzopardi failed to attend a family gathering in Melbourne, an absence so out of character it immediately raised alarm. Within hours, her brothers Darren and Sean would force their way into her home and make a discovery that would change their lives forever.
Nikkita had been brutally killed by her partner, Joel Micallef. Charged with murder, Micallef was later found not guilty due to mental impairment, after forensic psychiatrists told the Supreme Court of Victoria he was suffering acute psychosis at the time of the killing.
In this episode, Nikkita’s brothers speak publicly about the moments leading up to her death, the harrowing scene they encountered, and the legal process that followed. They share their frustration with a system they believe failed their sister, and explain why they are now calling for urgent reform of Victoria’s mental impairment laws.
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Presenter: Wayne Flower
Producer: Sam Morris
Creative Director: Caroline Cheetham
Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini
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