A fight over a load of washing led to a Melbourne man almost stabbing his elderly neighbour to death at their Elwood public housing complex, a court has heard.
Brett Vaisey, 57, fronted the Supreme Court today, pleading guilty to attempted murder.
Vaisey repeatedly stabbed his elderly female neighbour, Annick Henenberg, with a 20cm kitchen knife as she headed to their communal laundry about 7.25pm on Australia Day - 26 January - last year.
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The court heard Vaisey was caught on CCTV rushing at Ms Henenberg with the knife moments before the attack, and three people witnessed the vicious assault.
Ms Henenberg had also started an audio recording on her phone right before the incident, which captured Vaisey berating her during the attack.
"Piece of sh*t, die," he was recorded saying.
"If I'm going to jail it's worth it, you know what I mean."
The court heard the woman immediately fell to the ground after Vaisey first stabbed her.
He then continued to stab her until the knife's blade came off the handle, before he kicked and punched her to the head.
A neighbour grabbed Vaisey to end the attack.
Police arrived and Ms Henenberg was taken to hospital in a life-threatening condition.
Vaisey told police, "I didn't want to do it but she provoked me".
The court heard there was a history of disputes between Vaisey and Ms Henenberg.
On the day of the attack they had fought about the communal washing machine.
He had told her to stop using it, complaining it was making too much noise next to his unit.
About an hour before the incident, another neighbour had called police to the complex about Vaisey, reporting he had been standing outside the complex with a large knife.
Vaisey told police Ms Henenberg had been going back and forth to the laundry to provoke him.
Police left the scene less than half an hour before the attack unfolded.
Vaisey's lawyers told the court he had serious mental health issues that had a causal link to the offending.
Vaisey has since apologised and feels "guilt and shame" for the attack.
He will be sentenced at a later date.
