A woman and her lover found guilty of killing her husband were handed their jail sentences by Victoria's Supreme Court on Thursday morning.
Thirty-four-year-old Sofia Sam and her former lover Arun Kamalasanan (36) were present in court when they received their respective 22 and 27 year sentences for fatally poisoning Ms Sam's husband, Sam Abraham. Mr Kamalasanan will not be eligible for parole for 23 years, while Ms Sam will not be eligible for 18 years.
In October 2015, 33-year-old Sam Abraham had been found dead at his Epping home in Melbourne.
It was initially believed he had suffered a heart attack, before an investigation by Victoria Police with the help of covert operatives following an autopsy report, revealed Mr Sam had died of cyanide poisoning.
Ms Sam and Mr Kamasalanan were arrested on August 18, 2016, and charged with poisoning the young father who had been killed with cyanide-laced orange juice.
Sam Abraham (left) with Sofia Sam and Arun Kamalasanan (right) Source: Supplied
Evidence presented to court
In February 2017, the Melbourne County Court heard that Ms Sam and Mr Kamalasanan were having an affair that motivated the murder. Around 6,000 telephone conversations between the pair were collected by police.
The Court heard how Mr Arun Kamalasanan had drawn a detailed sketch of the victim's house showing where he hid before he poisoned Mr Abraham. Recorded conversations of Mr Kamalasanan speaking to an undercover police officer was used as evidence in the court. But the accused denied any involvement hours after the interview was played before the jury.
The court heard that Mr Kamalasanan had entered Mr Abraham’s house on the night of the murder and put sleeping pills into the victim's avocado smoothie. The court also heard that Mr Kamalasanan added potassium cyanide-powder to orange juice and poured it down Mr Abraham’s throat as he slept near his child and wife.
Sofia Sam (right) is seen entering a prison transfer van after appearing in the Court of Appeal in Melbourne on Thursday, June 21, 2018. Source: AAP Image/James Ross
Notes from Ms Sam's diary had previously been presented to a 14-member jury as proof of the relationship between her and Mr Kamalasanan. The prosecution also showed the court evidence from a joint bank account in the accused names, as well as details showing the change of ownership of a car from the late-Mr Abraham's name to Mr Kamalasanan's name.
Both Ms Sam and Mr Kamalasanan pleaded not guilty.
Addressing Arun Kamalasanan Justice Paul Coghlan said "I am satisfied from the evidence that you are the architect and driving force of the murder of Sam Abraham.
Source: Supplied
"I am satisfied that your conduct was pre-meditated," he said.
To Sofia Sam, Justice Coghlan said he was also satisfied that she had been involved in the murder.
"You are the friend and wife of Sam Abraham and your actions were a fundamental breach of trust and must be strongly denounced by the court."
Mr Kamalasanan's lawyer argued his client's fingerprints had not been found at the crime scene, so it wasn't possible he was present on the night.
Ms Sam's lawyer argued that it was not possible for his client to let her husband die when their child was sleeping next to them.
Guilty verdict
The jury gave the verdict on March 21, finding both Ms Sam and Mr Kamalasanan guilty of murder.
Ms Sam asked the court to reduce her sentence on account of her young child. She risks being deported to India.
Mr Kamalasanan requested the court to reduce his sentence taking his mental state into account.
The murder victim, as well as the pair found guilty of his death, were all from the southern Indian state of Kerala.
