An estranged husband who claimed he acted in self-defence when he stabbed his wife to death has been found guilty of murder.
A Victorian Supreme Court jury took less than three hours to deliberate before convicting 47-year-old Dinush Kurera of murder on Friday.
He stood trial for a month for the death of his wife Nelomie Perera.
Kurera admitted to killing her on December 3, 2022, but pleaded not guilty to murder charges, claiming he acted in self-defense.
He testified at his trial, telling the jury that Ms Perera had threatened him with a knife and bitten his finger during a heated argument at their Melbourne home.
He claimed he was afraid she would attack him when he grabbed an axe and hit her “just a few times.”
Ms Perera, 43, was found dead in a pool of blood with 35 separate wounds, prosecutors told the jury.
Kurera also denied attacking his 17-year-old son by hitting him with an axe when the teenager tried to flee from the house during the scuffle.
A Victorian Supreme Court jury took less than three hours to deliberate before convicting Dinush Kurera, 47, of murder on Friday
Kurera admitted killing his wife Nelomie Perera on December 3, 2022, but pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, claiming he acted in self-defense
The jury retired on Friday to discuss their verdict after hearing four weeks of evidence, including that of Kurera’s teenage son and daughter.
The girl, who was 16 when her mother died, said she saw her father repeatedly hit Ms Perera with a knife and an axe, while the boy said Kurera chased him with an axe and hit him when he tried to seek help.
Ms Perera, 43, was found dead in a pool of blood with 35 separate wounds, prosecutors told the jury
The jury reached its verdict in the case at 2 p.m. Friday, after more than three hours of deliberation.
The jury also found Kurera guilty of assaulting his son.
Kurera blinked and looked straight ahead as the sentences were pronounced.
He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at a later date.