SAS Australia: Hell Week star Lena Kasparian broke down in tears as she relived a horrific incident in her kitchen in 2011 that resulted in the death of her abusive partner.
On Monday’s first episode, the 42-year-old Sydney fashion designer recalled how her drunk boyfriend Marc Zartarian attacked her with a saucepan after they left a party.
After picking up a knife to defend against her attack, Zartarian walked towards her in a frenzy, before entering the blade. He died six days later.
Heartbreaking ordeal: SAS Australia: Hell Week star and victim of domestic violence Lena Kasparian (pictured) broke down in tears during Monday’s episode as she relived the horrific ordeal that saw her abusive partner die afterward attacking her with a saucepan
“We had a really bad event at home… domestic violence and he didn’t survive. He died six days after the incident, ” Kasparian told Ant Middleton and Jason Fox of SAS Australia.
“We came home from a party and he was a monster, it wasn’t him. He started attacking me and grabbed a pan and started hitting me.
Kasparian said she was trying to protect her two young children as her three-year-old son was wrapped around her leg.
Incident: The 42-year-old recalled how her drunk boyfriend Marc Zartarian attacked her with a saucepan in the kitchen in 2011 after they returned from a party
Frenzied Attack: After picking up a knife to defend against her attack, Zartarian walked towards her in a state of frenzy, before entering the blade. He died six days later. Pictured: Chief Instructor Ant Middleton listens to Kasparian’s ordeal
“I was just trying to protect his head because if I miss him, my son is dead. My daughter was behind him kicking him, saying, “Leave my mom alone,” she said.
Kasparian burst into tears as he remembered doing everything in his power to defend himself and his son.
“I was leaning against the kitchen bench and sort of jostled myself to see what I could find and there was a knife there. So I grabbed him and held him against my chest, still trying to push my son away, ”she said.
Protecting her children: Kasparian said she was trying to protect her two young children as her three-year-old son was wrapped around her leg. “I was just trying to protect his head because if I miss him my son is dead,” she said.
Trial: She remembers doing everything in her power to protect her son. “I was leaning against the kitchen bench and sort of jostled myself to see what I could find and there was a knife there. So I grabbed him and held him to my chest still trying to push my son away, ”she said.
“He was torso forward, coming towards me and he ended up pushing me towards me and the point of the knife dug into his chest.”
He entered her body only 1.4 centimeters, missing her cartilage but piercing her heart.
Kasparian said she called an ambulance which never arrived.
She was charged with murder at her funeral but was acquitted after a New South Wales Supreme Court jury found she had acted in self-defense.
Self-defense: “He was bulging chest, coming towards me and he ended up pushing me towards me and the point of the knife dug into his chest,” Kasparian said. He entered his body only 1.4 centimeters, missing his cartilage but piercing his heart
In court, Kasparian insisted that she did not use any force when holding the knife. She said she wasn’t sure if he tripped or missed a step before the knife entered his chest.
In June 2018 Kasparian relived the moment she learned that her abusive partner had died and how she felt “robbed”, she did not have the chance to say goodbye to him.
“I think I fell on my knees, I couldn’t accept it,” she told 60 Minutes, wiping away her tears.
Abusive ex-partner: Evening and wedding dress designer pictured with Zartarian
– I said no, you’re lying that he’s dead. I had just lost the man I loved. I haven’t had a chance to say goodbye or be by his side, or apologize or say I forgive you. I couldn’t do any of that. I felt robbed.
The emotional mother of two told 60 Minutes Tara Brown that she didn’t think her death would result in a murder charge against her.
When asked if her grief was about herself at the time, she replied, “No, no, it was about him.”
Previous TV interview: Kasparian, pictured at the police station in 2011, told 60 Minutes in June 2018 that she regretted picking up the knife to defend against her partner
Evidence: This scene image shows the pan and knife used in the 2011 incident
Not Guilty: Kasparian was initially charged with murder but acquitted after an NSW Supreme Court jury found she had acted in self-defense. Pictured leaving court in September 2012
She admitted that she regretted picking up the knife in self-defense.
– But then, what am I going to pick up, a wooden spoon? she said.
“If I hadn’t picked up the knife, would he have picked it up and used it against me?” It was therefore only an instantaneous and maternal instinct. I just wanted to protect my kids and scare him.
For confidential support regarding domestic violence or abuse, please contact 1800 Respect at 1800 737 732.
Naturally Emotional: Kasparian relived the moment when she was told her abusive partner had died and how she felt “robbed”, she didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to him. “I think I fell on my knees, I couldn’t accept it,” she told 60 Minutes, wiping her tears