On 23 April 2024, our client formally entered a plea of guilty to a charge of murder in the Downing Centre Local Court. The plea related to an incident that occurred on 20 July 2022, during which our client and his partner of approximately 17 months engaged in an argument at their residence in Dural. This confrontation ultimately led to our client committing an act with the intention of causing grievous bodily harm, which tragically resulted in the death of the victim.
Although murder carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment in New South Wales, the Court agreed this case did not fall within the rare category warranting a life sentence.
The relationship between our client and the deceased was marked by volatility and instability, including periods of separation and reconciliation. At the time of the offence, both were involved in separate branches of a dog-walking business—our client managed the Hornsby area, while the deceased later acquired the Chatswood territory. In the months preceding the offence, our client faced increasing challenges in managing his business, including financial pressure, disorganisation, and social withdrawal.
On the day of the offence, the deceased appeared emotionally distressed following the death of a dog she regularly cared for as part of her business. She communicated with both her business associate and her therapist during the day. The therapist later noted a change in her demeanour during a 4:00pm session, observing that she appeared distracted and anxious in the latter part of the consultation.
Between approximately 6:30pm and 7:15pm that evening, our client made over 100 attempts to contact the deceased via phone and WhatsApp, most of which went unanswered. The final confirmed communication from the deceased was at 7:19pm.
Between 7:19pm and 9:38pm, our client caused the deceased’s death by neck compression. He then wrapped the body in plastic, transported it in his work vehicle, and concealed it in bushland off Laurie Road in Dural, covering it with foliage. After returning home, he continued to interact with associates of the deceased.
In the days following, our client reported the deceased missing to police, friends, and family, providing inconsistent accounts of his actions on the evening of the offence. Location data from mobile devices and vehicles led police to the site where the body was discovered, wrapped in plastic and bound with tape. A post-mortem confirmed death by neck compression, with injuries consistent with multiple applications of force.
Forensic evidence, including DNA and fingerprints, directly linked our client to both the scene and the concealment of the body. Recorded prison phone calls in which our client made admissions were also relied upon by the prosecution.
At sentencing, the Court received substantial material in support of our client, including psychiatric reports, personal references, and documentation of his active engagement in rehabilitation programs while in custody. Our client completed multiple courses addressing family violence, substance misuse, and emotional regulation. He also submitted a letter expressing sincere acceptance of responsibility and remorse for his conduct.
The sentencing hearing took place over two days in the Supreme Court. After careful consideration of all evidence and submissions, Justice McNaughton determined this was not a case warranting the imposition of a life sentence. On 16 May 2025, our client was sentenced to a fixed term of imprisonment with a head sentence of 21 years and a non-parole period of 16 years.
This outcome is a testament to the strategic and diligent advocacy of our principal lawyer, whose early and well-prepared plea, combined with a comprehensive presentation of our client’s subjective circumstances and rehabilitation efforts, secured a significantly reduced non-parole period. The result underscores the critical importance of thorough legal representation in serious criminal matters, ensuring that all relevant factors are properly brought before the Court to achieve a fair and balanced sentencing outcome.
