Woman Pleads Guilty to Brutal Stabbing Murder of Ex-Lover in Busselton

A 30-year-old woman has pleaded guilty to the murder of her ex-lover, Tara Morrison, in a brutal stabbing attack in Busselton in April 2024.

Hannah Louise Glover's change of plea came mid-trial, after a court heard devastating evidence of Ms Morrison's final moments. Glover and her co-defendant, James Anthony Sorgiovanni, 29, were on trial accused of murdering Ms Morrison.

The Supreme Court heard that the trio were using drugs in Glover's Broadwater home before the killing. Ms Morrison, 38, had previously been in a relationship with Glover, but had since begun a new relationship with Mr Sorgiovanni.

Her body was found in a wardrobe, with multiple stab wounds.

Glover's guilty plea

At the start of proceedings on Thursday, Glover rose to her feet and pleaded guilty to murder.

Glover's admission followed a day of evidence from a woman who was in prison with her, who testified that Glover had described in detail how Ms Morrison died.

The woman, whose name has been suppressed, told the court that Glover said four knives had been used, and how she stabbed Ms Morrison while Mr Sorgiovanni held her hands behind her back.

She said Glover had explained she was wearing a pink sarong or bandana across her face, and had grabbed Ms Morrison's hair.

Tara Morrison's body was found in a wardrobe in the Busselton house in April, 2024.

Glover told the woman Ms Morrison had been dragged around the house during the assault, and described where blood landed in the home.

Glover said she stabbed Ms Morrison in the neck three times to make sure she was dead, then tried to burn down the home.

The woman told the court Glover did not reveal the total number of times Ms Morrison had been stabbed, nor explain how she was placed in the wardrobe.

Glover's motivations and reaction

Glover claimed she committed the murder because she had seen Ms Morrison give drugs to her young daughter, although the prosecutor earlier told the court there was no evidence this had occurred.

The court also heard Glover said Ms Morrison was obsessed with her and Mr Sorgiovanni was angry about this.

She said Glover showed "no remorse whatsoever" and even laughed about what she had done.

She told the court Glover claimed it gave her a "high" like she had never had.

Under questioning from Mr Sorgiovanni's lawyer, Lisa Boston, the woman admitted Glover had said "Jimmy" tried to pull her away, and at one point had grabbed her in a "bear hug".

The court was played several recordings of conversations between the woman and Glover, captured by a surveillance device placed in the woman's cell.

When the woman was asked why she told authorities about Glover's admissions, she said the details were "horrific" and that it was the right thing to do.

She said justice needed to be served.

The trial of Mr Sorgiovanni is continuing.