Marcela Castaneda's lawyer has argued in a Sydney court that all of her actions were "defensive in nature" on the night she plunged a kitchen knife into her fiance's chest.
Castaneda is on trial for manslaughter after she was found not guilty of murder this week.
The 33-year-old stabbed her partner Gregory Peck to death in their western Sydney home in February 2013 after a violent altercation sparked by Castaneda calling off their engagement.
"All of her actions were defensive in nature," barrister Phillip Strickland SC told the jury while closing the defence's case in the NSW Supreme Court manslaughter trial.
Mr Strickland said Castaneda was scared of her "very aggressive and intense partner" and tried to run after he choked her on that fatal evening.
Noticing he had followed her to the kitchen, she grabbed a knife and said "stay away from me", Mr Strickland said.
Castaneda told the court on Wednesday that she tried to lead Mr Peck from their home at knife-point but when she reached the patio, he swore and "lunged" at her in the doorway.
It was then that Castaneda said she struck.
"She saw that he was going to hit her, take the knife from her and seriously hurt her," Mr Strickland said.
Mr Strickland has argued the stabbing was self-defence against a repetitively abusive man.
But crown prosecutor Patrick Barrett said it was pre-emptive or retaliatory and Castaneda had stabbed Mr Peck because she was angry.
During the trial, an emotional Castaneda told the jury how she panicked after stabbing Mr Peck and dialled triple zero, begging the operator to send an ambulance immediately.
"All that she cared about then was that man who was dying," Mr Strickland said.
Mr Barrett questioned why she didn't lock Mr Peck out of the house but Castaneda told the court she didn't have a chance.
The jury is expected to retire to consider its verdict today.
