In a bid to bring an end to years of alleged family violence from her husband, Joanne De Bono crushed up 75 temazepam tablets and, a court has heard, mixed them with his dinner - a plate of meatballs.

After that, the Melbourne Magistrate's Court was told on Monday, she attempted to poison him with a syringe full of weedkiller and brake fluid.

Meatballs mixed with sleeping tablets failed to keep Joanne De Bono's husband from waking as she tried to inject him with a poisoned cocktail. Credit:Marina Oliphant

But he didn't die, and Mrs De Bono now stands accused of her husband's attempted murder. Her 19-year-old daughter is her co-accused.

The huge dose of sleeping tablets knocked Stephen De Bono into a deep stupor, the court heard.