‘I tried to save him’: woman recalls soulmate’s death

Janene Hall watched her fiancé die in her arms after being run over by a man visiting next door following an argument over barking dogs on Christmas Eve.

Russell Klein, 55, was her “soulmate” and the couple had made plans to travel after the wedding.

But their future was ruined after a row with Callum Anthony Padaric Cook escalated dramatically on Christmas Eve 2022.

The incidents ended when Cook, 33, drove into Mr Klein and crashed him into his own home in Millmerran, west of Brisbane.

Ms Hall spoke directly to Cook in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Friday, saying: “I tried to save him. I looked into his eyes as he took his last breath.”

“I felt the world collapse around me. I fell apart. A part of me died, too.”

Cook was in the backyard next to Mr. Klein and Ms. Hall’s home when their dog started barking.

Mrs. Hall went out and met Cook on the other side of the fence.

Judge Michael Copley said: “He swore at her, said he had a knife and was either going to stab her or slit her throat.” he said.

Ms. Hall told Cook to leave or she would warn Mr. Klein and take his gun.

Cook drove away but made two U-turns before returning because he “wanted to give Ms Hall another spray”.

Mr. Klein pointed an inoperative shotgun at Cook, but the jury found that the defendant’s actions in response were not justified as self-defense.

“You had enough time to drive away. Instead you turned around and drove towards (Mr Klein),” Judge Copley said.

Cook drove his car through a narrow gap between two trees and hit Mr Klein, causing fatal injuries within minutes.

“You didn’t stay to help. You ran away. You went home and said, ‘God, what did I do?’ You didn’t say. and call the police,” Judge Copley said.

Mrs Hall had to get rid of her beloved dachshund after the sound of its barking triggered flashbacks.

Mrs Hall told Cook that Christmas was “now filled with pain, heartbreak and anger because of you”.

“Russell was the love of my life, my soul mate… We were planning our wedding for the following year with great love and excitement,” she said.

“These plans were destroyed by you.”

Cook sat with his head in his hands before sentencing.

He was acquitted of murder but found guilty of manslaughter by a Toowoomba Supreme Court jury in October.

He was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with the requirement that he spend at least 80 percent of this time in custody.

Cook will be eligible for parole in six years and eight months due to time already served.

He was also indefinitely disqualified from holding a driver’s licence.