A Victorian curry restaurant chef who murdered his customer in a "totally-out-of-proportion" response to the diner's drunken provocation has been jailed for 23 years.
Nepalese chef Hari Prasad Dhakal, 50, stabbed 38-year-old Pakistani-born IT worker Abdullah Siddiqi multiple times at the Ballarat Curry House on October 25, 2016.
In sentencing Dhakal on Friday, Supreme Court judge Lex Lasry said Mr Siddiqi - an infrequent drinker - had arrived at the restaurant with a bottle of Jim Beam.
He was the only diner in the restaurant.
After finishing his meal, he approached the counter and asked for more food - something spicy - but Dhakal told him he'd had too much to drink.
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The two men then scuffled, with Dhakal taking a knife and stabbing Mr Siddiqi 17 times.
"It's common ground the deceased lost his temper and became quite abusive towards you," Justice Lasry said.
Justice Lasry said Mr Siddiqi had called Dhakal a "motherf***er" and "sisterf***er" in Hindi.
"I accept the deceased was aggressive and you responded spontaneously," he said.
"(But) the threat from him was totally out-of-proportion to the action you took with the knife in your restaurant."
Dhakal pleaded not guilty to the crime, after admitting to police he'd stabbed the man to death, producing the knife at a Ballarat police station.
During his trial, Dhakal claimed he acted in self-defence, that he lost control and had little memory of his actions and was afraid Mr Siddiqi might attack him with a knife, but he jury rejected his claims.
Dhakal must serve a minimum of 17 years before he is eligible for parole.
