An elderly man who was found beaten to death in his Sydney apartment was a ladies' man and a heavy drinker, a court has heard.
Narelle Fiona Smith, 46, is accused of murdering Peter McCarthy, after his body was found in in his South Coogee unit in December 2020 face-up on the lounge room floor surrounded by broken furniture, glasses and a frying pan, a jury has been told.
The 77-year-old was in a romantic relationship with his neighbour Julia Strafela while also attempting to pursue a relationship with a different neighbour, Kylie Vaughn, the NSW Supreme Court heard on Wednesday.
Ms Vaughn said when Mr McCarthy was drinking he would kiss her sometimes and put his hand on her leg.
"It never went any further, he was very respectful and I wasn't interested as he was three years older than my dad," she told the jury.
Other residents testified that Mr McCarthy arrived at a small gathering with his accused murderer in tow, three days before his body was found.
A young woman was "annoyed" when upon arriving home she found her mother drinking with friends, including Mr McCarthy and Smith.
"I told mum I didn't want anyone there and when I saw people there I went straight to my room," she said.
Soon after, despite never having met before, Smith came into the young woman's room and began accusing her of stealing, the court heard.
"I assumed she was talking about this one time me and my cousin stole a jumper... but she was yelling really close to my face," she said.
"Then my mum came and heard her yelling and said she had to leave, and she went to (Mr McCarthy's) after that."
Several other party-goers testified that Mr McCarthy and Smith were heard talking loudly in his apartment afterwards.
Earlier in the trial Mr McCarthy's ex-wife admitted her relationship with him had become strained because of his drinking habit and "fondness for the ladies" but said they had still kept in touch, including to organise Christmas gatherings each year.
Smith has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr McCarthy after spending the day celebrating her 46th birthday on December 17, 2020.
Prosecutors allege a person known by Smith used Mr McCarthy's ATM cards after the murder and that Smith herself used his Opal card to travel around Sydney.
The trial continues.
