Loading

She brought a knife with her, which she hid near a tram stop, and retrieved it when she saw Mr Cartwright coming towards her and "anticipated that something was going to happen", defence barrister Jarrod Williams said.

There was a "history of animosity" between the pair and they had exchanged messages and fought in the months before the attack, he said.

"It was not an impulsive, spontaneous action and in the heat of the moment," prosecutor Mark Rochford QC said.

The court heard Giannioudis, who claimed she did not realise the severity of her victim's injuries, went on to complete a drug deal shortly afterwards.

Tracie Ricardo, the victim's mother, told the court she often cried "uncontrollably" with grief at the loss of her only child.

She said her son was not violent, but had "lost his way" and made poor decisions.

"It still doesn't make sense why he ended up dead. I do not feel like I'm getting answers," Ms Ricardo said, in her victim impact statement.

"Not a day goes by when I do not think of him and this has changed my whole life."

In a letter read to court, Giannioudis said she was remorseful for Mr Cartwright's death and apologised to his friends and family.

"I still find it hard to accept I have taken someone's life and I will humbly accept my sentencing and continue my work towards rehabilitation," she said.

Mr Williams said she experienced a troubled childhood but was trying to turn her life around following Mr Cartwright's death.

Judge Lesley Taylor will sentence Giannioudis at a later date.

AAP