A Victorian woman left the body of her spouse, which contained 69 grams of temazepam, in a freezer for three days after his death, the Supreme Court in Mildura has heard.
Rebecca Payne, who was 41 when she was arrested in 2020, is on trial for the murder of 68-year-old Noel Payne.
His body was found by police in September 2020 in Walpeup, 130 kilometres south of Mildura.
Ms Payne has admitted to killing Mr Payne by drugging him with temazepam-spiked biscuits and hiding his body in a freezer at the back of their property.
Ms Payne has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and not guilty to murder.
Today the jury heard the opening arguments from Crown prosecutor David Glynn and Ms Payne's lawyer, Richard Edney.
Ms Payne appeared emotional while the Crown delivered its opening statement.
Mr Glynn told the court the prosecution would prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Ms Payne murdered her spouse.
The court heard the defence would argue that Ms Payne's actions caused Mr Payne's death, but that it was not her intention to murder him.
Both sides agreed there was a history of violence from Mr Payne towards Ms Payne and another woman, Minnie Payne, who lived in the same house at the time of Mr Payne's death.
Minnie was not a blood relative of the Paynes, but moved into the house during a period when Mr and Ms Payne were separated.
Minnie, who has an acquired brain injury, will give evidence in the case.
