Adrian Basham murdered Samantha Fraser on Phillip Island then tried to make it look like she’d taken her own life. Now he’s made another shameless move in court – but the judge has no sympathy for him whatsoever

A convicted murderer has lost a court battle to keep the $500,000 home in which he bludgeoned his estranged wife to death.

Deranged killer Adrian Basham, 46, murdered Samantha Fraser at her Phillip Island home in 2018 before staging the scene to look like a suicide.

Basham, who was sentenced in February this year to at least three decades in prison for his heinous crime, had been waging a legal battle to keep the $545,000 estate the couple bought together in 2012 to make a living. to help finance an appeal against his conviction.

At the time of her death, Ms Fraser (pictured) had finally escaped Basham’s violent clutches and was set to testify against him after he was accused of repeatedly raping her in 2014 and 2016.

Adrian Basham pleaded not guilty to the murder of his estranged wife. A jury didn’t believe him

But he was given short shrift Tuesday afternoon by Judge Lesley Taylor, who ordered the house forfeited to the state.

“It was a premeditated murder that took place against a background of domestic violence,” the judge said Nine newspapers.

‘The offense itself consisted of Ms Fraser being subjected to a severe beating, during which she suffered 41 separate blunt force injuries.

“The forfeiture of Seagrove Way is proportionate to the nature and seriousness of the offence.”

Basham, who appeared via video link and represented himself, told the court he wanted to keep items in the house that he claimed were his, but the judge shut him down.

“Mr. Basham, I’m going to stop you there, this is not a case I can help you with,” Judge Taylor said.

“This is not a matter before me.”

Basham’s father James also lost his fight to keep the $15,000 black 2018 Kawasaki Ninja ZX1000 motorcycle that his son used as a getaway vehicle after committing the crime.

After being forfeited by the state, the proceeds from both items will likely go to Basham’s three children and his elderly former in-laws, whom they are now raising.

At the time of her death, Ms Fraser had finally escaped Basham’s violent clutches and was due to testify against him after he was accused of repeatedly raping her in 2014 and 2016.

Ms Fraser told friends before her death that she “felt stronger and was looking forward to a new life”.

Police alleged Basham lay in wait for two hours while Mrs Fraser dropped their children off at school before sneaking into the garage on their return.

She was found dead in the garage on July 23, 2018 – the day after her 38th birthday.

The alarm was raised when she did not pick up her children from school.