A MAN accused of hiring a "hitman" to execute Stockton swimming teacher Stacey Klimovitch had become enraged by the 61-year-old's overprotective and dominant approach and saw her as a threat to a relationship with his infant son, detectives allege.
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Stuart Daniel Campbell, 29, has been charged with murder over the death of Mrs Klimovitch, who was shot in the chest point blank with a 12 gauge shotgun when she answered the door to her Queen Street home about 8pm on June 9.
Strike Force Backhouse detectives allege Mr Campbell hired Canberra man Jason Paul Hawkins to kill Ms Klimovitch, who was the mother of Mr Campbell's ex-partner. Police allege Mr Campbell's relationship with his ex had soured and they had separated in the months before their son was born.
Mr Campbell and Mrs Klimovitch had a "mutual hatred" for each other, detectives allege, and the genesis for the alleged plot to kill Mrs Klimovitch seems to stem from a confrontation at a house in Argenton in March shortly after the baby was born.
The pair argued and Mrs Klimovitch told Mr Campbell: "You're never going to know the baby. Your name's not even going to be on the birth certificate".
The argument escalated and Mrs Klimovitch struck Mr Campbell in the face, detectives allege.
Later, Mr Campbell sent his ex-partner a message saying: "Its quite simple: that house, my son and your wellbeing is not dictated by your mother... Your mum will realise the only thing she's in control of is the slippers she puts on in the morning".
In April, Mr Campbell allegedly sent another text to his ex saying: "I'm sorry I don't forgive your mum as easily as you do, but let's face the fact that she's a piece of s---. "A miserable old woman who should be dead by now but isn't." Mr Campbell's ex later moved in with her mother in Queen Street, Stockton and detectives allege Mr Campbell began orchestrating a plot to have Mrs Klimovitch killed. In June, he allegedly drove from Canberra to Argenton with Mr Hawkins before the pair met up with a third man and drove to Heddon Greta.
Detectives allege the three men remained in contact and on June 9, the third man - who has not been charged over the murder - drove Mr Hawkins from the house at Heddon Greta to Stockton and parked in Crown Street.
Mr Hawkins was allegedly wearing gloves and full-length clothing when he knocked on the front door of Mrs Klimovitch's house and called out "Stacey".
When Mrs Klimovitch appeared she was shot through the screen door.
Despite her daughter's desperate attempts to provide first aid, the 61-year-old died a short time later.
Mr Hawkins allegedly fled through backyards to the waiting vehicle, which was driven back to Argenton.
Around the same time, Mr Campbell was going through the drive-thru at Edgeworth McDonald's, which detectives claim was a "carefully crafted and deliberate act" to create an alibi.
Mr Hawkins was extradited from the ACT on Monday and later charged with murder. He is expected to face Queanbeyan Local Court on Tuesday. Police spotted Mr Campbell in Honeysuckle on Friday and, after initially refusing to stop and resisting arrest, he was arrested and later charged with murder.
He remains behind bars until the matter returns to court in January.
The third man - who allegedly drove Mr Hawkins to Stockton and back - was later charged with drug supply offences and remains in jail.