WA woman jailed for fatally stabbing partner during argument

A woman has been jailed for five years for fatally stabbing her partner during an argument in WA's Midwest.This story contains details of a violent confrontation some readers may find distressing.Mollina Rose Anne Ryan had been drinking with Desmond Cook at a property in Geraldton on December 12, 2024, when she stabbed the 54-year-old with a kitchen knife.The 32-year-old was initially charged with murder, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter on August 3, 2026, which would have been the first day of her Supreme Court trial.She faced that court on Wednesday for sentencing.The court heard the argument began after a day of drinking with family members, and that Ryan had also consumed cannabis.Witnesses heard Ryan say "if you leave me, I'm going to stab you", the court was told.After Mr Cook walked away, Ryan ran into the house, grabbed a 30-centimetre knife from the kitchen and chased after him.The court heard Ryan was shouting at Mr Cook, who stopped and turned to face her before she stabbed him once in the chest, causing a fatal injury to his heart.Mr Cook staggered and said "look what you've done to me" before collapsing on a nearby porch, the court was told.Desmond Cook died at the front of this house in Bayly Street, Wonthella. (ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt: Brianna Melville)Ryan followed Mr Cook while still holding the knife. She was disarmed by a family member.The court heard Ryan "appeared distraught" when police and paramedics arrived, and was holding onto Mr Cook, who had lost consciousness.He was taken to Geraldton Hospital and died eight hours later.Ryan was arrested at the scene and has remained in custody since.Mother's 'heart stopped'Mr Cook's mother, Joyce Cook, became emotional as she delivered her victim impact statement, telling the court "Shorty" was a kind and caring person."His big smile was his signature," she said."Shorty left me suddenly. My heart stopped when his stopped."Ms Cook said her future had been destroyed by the incident."My life fell apart," she said."Shattered, unfixable."'Dysfunctional' relationshipDefence counsel George Giudice said Ryan's childhood and adult relationships had been marred by family and domestic violence.He said Mr Cook was violent to her during their relationship and that she "could not escape from him".Mr Giudice said Ryan used alcohol and drugs to cope with post-traumatic stress disorder from the violence she experienced.He told the court Ryan showed genuine remorse and that she "still loved" Mr Cook.Ryan made decisions that made the offending more serious, the court heard. (ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt: Brianna Melville)But prosecutor Jenna Winter argued that Ryan was a perpetrator of violence against Mr Cook, as well as a victim."It was clearly a dysfunctional relationship and the state doesn't shy away from that," she said.Ms Winter said Ryan made a series of deliberate decisions in obtaining a knife and following her partner, and showed hostility towards Mr Cook while he was visibly deteriorating.'Marred by family violence'Justice Joseph McGrath accepted there was "mutual" violence in Ryan's previous relationships and said confrontation had been fuelled by alcohol and other substances."I accept that your life has been marred by family violence," he said to Ryan."You were intoxicated, angry and emotionally distraught."The court Desmond Cook was stabbed in the heart. (ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt: Brianna Melville)But Justice McGrath said Ryan's conscious choice to arm herself made the offending more serious, making an immediate prison term the only appropriate punishment."There was no need for you to go and get that knife, Ms Ryan," he said.He sentenced Ryan to five years in jail, backdated December 2024. She will be eligible for parole in January 2028.