Months after Sam Abraham died of cyanide poisoning, detectives spied on his alleged murderers, Sofia Sam and Arun Kamalasanan who ran errands, shopped for groceries together and met for lunches.
Police followed the pair and took photos of the victim's wife and her alleged lover having lunch in the CBD several times as investigators gathered surveillance evidence for more than six months, reports.
33-year-old Sofia Sam and her alleged lover 35-year-old Arun Kamalasanan are on trial in the Supreme Court of Victoria for alleged murder of Sam Abraham at his home in Epping, Melbourne in October 2015.
It was initially believed Mr Abraham suffered a heart attack but an autopsy revealed he died of cyanide poisoning and had a sedative in his system.
The jury on Thursday heard evidence from six surveillance officers who watched Sam and Kamalasanan in the months following the death.
To maintain their anonymity in the field, the officers were not named in court, but referred to by a number.
The jury was shown photos of Kamalasanan meeting Sam in the CBD before having lunch together at a food court. "At the Galleria in Bourke Street in the city," Surveillance Operative 123 said.
They also had photos of Kamalasanan in Melbourne's Royal Park, obscured by trees as he spoke on the phone. He later met up with Sam, the jury heard.
The pair were observed on several occasions together between November 2015 and May 2016.
Prosecutors allege Kamalasanan, working with Sam, sedated then poisoned Mr Abraham by pouring cyanide-laced orange juice into his mouth while he was asleep.
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DOCTOR GIVES EVIDENCE IN THE COURT
A doctor also gave evidence on Thursday, detailing his research into the involuntary swallowing reflex people have when sleeping.
"Putting liquid into your throat causes you to swallow it," said Dr Michael Burke of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine.
Dr Burke conducted the autopsy on Mr Abraham and found the cause of death was cyanide, which was found in the 33-year-old's stomach.
"I'm not saying how (the cyanide) got there. I'm just saying it was there, and that's what he died of."
Sam and Kamalasanan knew each other from their college days in India and reconnected when they both moved to Melbourne, the jury heard.
It's alleged they were having a secret affair and expressed their affection through passionate diary entries.
"Can you hold me tight? I want to drift away in your love," Ms Judd read from one of Sam's entries during the prosecutor's opening.
Sam and Kamalasanan have pleaded not guilty and remain in custody as the murder trial continues.
