Lankan jailed for life for killing wife
A Sri Lankan man has been sentenced to a life term in jail by an
Australian court for bashing his wife to death with a hammer in a
jealous rage. Sampathawaduge Eustace Sudath Silva, 51, was sentenced to
a minimum of 17 years behind bars after admitting to killing his wife
Kurukulasuriya in Perth in February 2012.
Silva wept as West Australian Supreme Court Justice Lindy Jenkins
said while he had been a devoted father, he had been a jealous and
controlling husband.
Justice Jenkins said he was lucky to still have the love and support
of his two daughters Amali and Pavithra, who had written to the court to
support their father despite his admission of murder.
''I cannot place great weight on their desires because of the
seriousness of your offending,'' Justice Jenkins was quoted as saying by
AAP. ''They love you very much and are lost without your protection and
support.'' The court heard the Sri Lankan couple moved to Australia in
2005, but their marriage had been beset by difficulties including bouts
of domestic violence.
That culminated in his wife having an affair with a work colleague in
2010, which prompted Silva to hire a private investigator to spy on her,
and monitor her phone calls. While she gave up her lover, Silva was also
forced by her husband to give up her work, but his jealousy did not
abate. A trial of issues last month heard Silva had bought a heavy
hammer the day before the murder, which he claimed was for building a
pot plant stand.
AAP
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