A remorseless killer who fatally attacked his wife with a hatchet in front of their children has been jailed for 37 years, with a judge describing his excuses as “ridiculous”.
On Thursday, Justice Mandy Fox said Dinush Kurera had put forward a “hopeless” explanation that he acted in self-defence, as she sentenced the 47-year-old for murder and attacking his son.
Nelomie Perera had long been fearful of her estranged husband and had taken out a court order against him. It banned Kurera from going to the couple’s Sandhurst home.
Kurera had been having an affair overseas when the order was taken out. He was infuriated when he returned to Australia days before the killing and was told he could not return home, and that his wife wanted to permanently leave him.
Late on December 3, 2022, Kurera disguised himself in black clothing, armed himself with a hatchet and a can of fuel, broke in through a back fence and ambushed Ms Perera.
The couple’s teenage son and daughter tried in vain to stop Kurera as he used the hatchet and a kitchen knife during the 14-minute attack and left his wife to die on the floor.
Her final words to her daughter were “I’m dead”.
A personal safety watch Ms Perera was wearing recorded the final stages of the attack.
“The recording itself was harrowing. It captures the last moments of Nelomie Perera’s life,” Justice Fox said.
“She was unarmed and utterly defenceless.”
Kurera also swung the hatchet at his son, striking him in the back of the head, shoulder and knee.
The children ran out of the house and raised the alarm, telling neighbours and paramedics that Kurera had murdered their mother.
Kurera fled to a bathroom, having soiled himself. He told emergency services “I kill my wife. She’s dead over there”.
Loved ones of Ms Perera filled the Supreme Court on Thursday, sitting metres away from Kurera who remained with his arms crossed in the court dock and avoided eye contact.
Prosecutors had called for Kurera to receive the harshest penalty under Victorian law — a life sentence.
Justice Fox denounced the crime and described it as “a very serious murder”, but said it was not grave enough to warrant a life sentence.
Kurera chose to plead not guilty to murder at trial, forcing his children to take the stand and give evidence about how their mother was killed.
Prosecutors said Ms Perera was found with 35 separate injuries to her head, face, neck, arms and abdomen. Kurera walked away from the incident uninjured.
On the stand, Kurera claimed he was acting in self-defence and said he could not recall much of the attack, blaming it on memory loss.
He also denied going to the property with a plan to commit murder, despite purchasing a new outfit, jimmy bar, hatchet and fuel on the day of the killing.
Kurera said he didn’t have a plan when he went to his estranged wife’s home, despite buying the hatchet that same day.
Instead, Kurera said he went to the house because he wanted to see his daughter and fill the empty petrol tank of a Ducati motorcycle at the property.
Justice Fox called the explanation “ridiculous”.
“Your defence at trial never rose above hopeless,” she said.
“The prosecution case against you was overwhelming.”
Justice Fox said Ms Perera was a much-loved friend and mother, and that her loss was devastating for those who knew her.
During the trial, family members described Kurera’s history of domestic violence, which had begun a decade earlier.
“You were motivated by anger and saw everything through the prism of entitlement and ownership,” Justice Fox said.
“Nelomie had every right to leave you, see whoever she liked, and remain in the Sandhurst house while the separation occurred.”
Kurera will have to serve at least 30 years before being eligible for parole.
Supporters of Ms Perera hugged each other and thanked police after Kurera was handcuffed and taken away by security guards. (ABC)