Makeny Banek made a "calculated decision to take the life" of his three-year-old son's mother, because she no longer loved him, a Melbourne judge has said during sentencing.
In March last year, Banek repeatedly punched, strangled and threw a stereo at 20-year-old Abuk Akek, in a rage following an argument.
The Victoria Supreme Court heard he snapped, and when his fists didn’t kill her, he found a knife and stabbed her three times.
He then carried her body to her bed, and covered her in a sheet, placing a rose on her body, a gesture Justice Michael Croucher described as weird and disturbing.
Before he left her flat, Banek cleaned up, and, unable to find his phone, took hers instead.
In sentencing, Justice Croucher said Ms Akek, “didn’t stand a chance".
"You beat her mercilessly from room to room in her flat,” he said.
He said Ms Akek, who had taken out several intervention orders against Banek, was unable to defend herself against him as she was much smaller.
Justice Croucher also outlined how their families had known each other in South Sudan before they fled to Australia as refugees.
Banek was only one when his family fled to Kenya where they spent 12 years in a refugee camp before coming to Australia.
Ms Akek arrived in Australia with her five siblings after being separated from their parents.
The pair were unofficially married, as a cultural requirement, following the birth of their son who now faces life without both of his parents.
Justice Croucher described Banek’s actions as selfish and deeply repugnant.
“Ms Akek’s son will have very little memory of his mother,” he said.
“What a terrible thing, to rob your son of the memory of his mother.”
Now 25, Banek will spend at least 18 years of his 23-year sentence behind bars.
Justice Croucher said he would have increased Banek’s prison time, had it not been for his early and full confession, and his prospects of rehabilitation.
He noted Banek had been abusing the drug ice, cannabis and alcohol, and that had led to suicidal and psychotic thoughts.
Their son will be cared for by family.
