A Victorian man charged with murdering a woman he met through an online chatroom has told a court he was abused as a child.
Adam Margolis has been charged with murdering Mai Yia Vang, 26, in Bendigo in February 2018.
The 41-year-old told police after his arrest that Ms Vang, who he met via an online chatroom called Omegle, had "goaded" him into attacking her by triggering "flashbacks" that related to his childhood.
Margolis on Thursday said he was abused while growing up and forced to frequently change schools.
"I was severely abused by my stepfather and could not focus on school," Margolis told the Victorian Supreme Court.
"There were threats to kill me. They also didn't feed me for long periods. I looked anorexic by the time I was 18 ...(but) it's difficult to talk about. It's the focus of my flashbacks."
The former IT developer said he began to tell Ms Vang about his background and personal life within 40 minutes of chatting to her online.
"At first we were joking around, just making each other laugh," Margolis said.
"Then I trusted her and told her some things about my life. She was receptive and seemed to have a high intellect."
Ms Vang met Margolis online in January 2018 and agreed to move in with him in Bendigo the following month.
Police found her body lying on a mattress one week later, after Margolis sent a 12-page email to a group of former acquaintances outlining he had killed a woman and planned to take his own life.
The court previously heard Margolis became angered after discovering Ms Vang remained in contact with an ex-boyfriend, who has testified that she was a quiet, reserved and intelligent person with a good sense of humour.
When police asked the Bendigo man if he took Ms Vang's life, Margolis said that wasn't an "appropriate way of phrasing it".
"I'm not the person you're obviously trying to make me out to be," he told police.
"She drew me into a flashback intentionally, knowing full well what would happen."
His barrister, Bruce Walmsley QC, has said the trial hinged on whether the jury could find that Margolis intentionally killed Ms Vang.
The trial continues on Friday.
Australian Associated Press
