Melbourne man sentenced to 25 years jail for ex-partner's stabbing murder
A Melbourne man who stabbed the mother of his four children to death in frenzied daylight attack, after she had taken out an intervention order against him, has been sentenced to 25 years.
Craig McDermott, 39, was found guilty in May of stabbing his ex-partner Fiona Warzywoda to death outside a Sunshine shopping centre, west of Melbourne, in April 16, 2014.
The Victorian Supreme Court Justice Jane Dixon handed down her sentence on Wednesday, ordering him to serve a maximum of 25 years behind bars, with a minimum of 20 years.
The murder happened after the pair had left a nearby court which had just finalised an order banning McDermott from approaching Ms Warzywoda.
Ms Warzywoda and McDermott had separated in February 2014 after 18 years together.
Both McDermott and his former partner attended the Sunshine Magistrates Court, where Ms Warzywoda told court staff McDermott had approached her and said "you're f***ed".
After the hearing, Ms Warzywoda went to visit her solicitor while McDermott bought a $4 kitchen knife from a discount store at the nearby shopping centre.
He then sat at a cafe overlooking the shopping centre car park to keep watch for his ex-partner to return, then McDermott stabbed her to death.
Ms Warzywoda's brother, Paul Judge, previously told the court in a victim impact statement: "The thought of her life coming down to 32 seconds and $4 is hard to swallow.
"You were supposed to love her."
Ms Warzywoda's younger sister, Jolene, said the murder left her heartbroken.
"I feel like a part of me died when Fiona died," she said in her victim statement.
During his trial, McDermott previously gave evidence his former partner came at him with a knife and he put his hand out to block it, before a struggle ensued.
He even claimed Ms Warzywoda's had stabbed herself, but the jury was not convinced and McDermott was later found guilty of her murder.
If you or someone you know is suffering from sexual or domestic abuse, don't suffer in silence, call the National sexual assault helpline1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732 any time of day or night.'
