Father guilty of stabbing friend more than 30 times over unpaid debt

A murdered Melbourne man was stabbed more than 30 times in the back by a mate who owed him $200,000, a court has been told.

Jim Leigh, 54, has pleaded guilty to murdering 47-year-old Brian Recourt at his Montmorency home on June 27, 2018.

Victoria's Supreme Court was told today that Mr Recourt had loaned Leigh $200,000 and none of the money was repaid before the former friend was stabbed 34 times in the back and neck.

Leigh had met Mr Recourt at his house and killed him in the bathroom after telling him the toilet was broken.

Mr Recourt's blood-stained body was later found slumped over the toilet by his wife Anita, who told the court "Brian would give the shirt off his back if he knew it would help someone".

Since the murder, she woke screaming and crying.

"Now I have an overwhelming feeling of emptiness and sadness," Mrs Recourt said through prosecutor Mark Rochford QC.

"Many times ... I am immobile with grief.

"Every day is a struggle."

The court was told Mr Recourt was among a number of Leigh's associates who had lent him money, after he was declared bankrupt.

Mr Recourt had repeatedly told Leigh he needed the money back.

After being arrested, Leigh told police his victim had threatened his son unless the money was repaid.

But Justice Andrew Tinney dismissed this claim as "completely fanciful" and said it meant Leigh lacked remorse.

Leigh's barrister said his client still maintained his son had been threatened, but it didn't mean he wasn't "truly sorry" for what he did.

"The two aren't mutually exclusive propositions," Richard Backwell said.