Wife jailed for up to 16 years for murdering abusive husband with drugged biscuits
A woman who murdered her husband by drugging homemade biscuits after suffering more than a decade of insidious abuse at his hands will spend at least 10 years in prison.
Rebecca Payne, 43, was found guilty of Noel Payne’s murder by a Supreme Court jury in regional Victoria earlier this year.
In September 2020, she gave him a fatal dose of Temazepam by lacing the icing of biscuits, serving them to him with a cup of Milo.
Payne then wrapped her husband in a blanket and stored his body in a chest freezer in the backyard of their Walpeup family home.
The killing came after she suffered years of coercive control and physical, emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of Payne.
He cut off communication from her family and friends, did not allow her to go to her son’s funeral and forced her to tattoo his name on her body 18 times.
On one occasion, after a fight over finances Payne took her to a cemetery, grabbed her by the hair, kicked her in the ribs and spat on her while she was on the ground.
Supreme Court Justice Rita Incerti said it was impossible to separate the impact the “insidious abuse” had on Payne from her motive to murder him.
“You were trapped in an abusive, violent and cruel environment for over a decade,” she said.
“Your conduct and regrettable decision to kill Mr Payne cannot be disentangled from your circumstances and the family violence you endured at his hands.”
Justice Incerti said the case “calls out loudly” for her to use a high degree of mercy in deciding on a prison sentence.
“Your claim for mercy is compelling,” she said.
She handed Payne a maximum 16-year prison sentence and she must serve 10 years before she is eligible for parole.
Payne has already served two years and seven months of her sentence.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
