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Man sentenced to life for ‘despicable’ murder of wife he killed by fire

Aris Schuler-ShahNewsWire
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Camera IconNot Supplied Credit: News Corp Australia

A man who doused his wife in petrol, before brutally setting her alight and burning her to death has been sentenced to life behind bars.

Roland Griffiths, 41, appeared before Victoria’s Supreme Court stony-faced as he was handed the life sentence for the murder of Kylie Sheahan in March 2022.

Justice John Champion said Griffiths had inflicted “a form of death so brutal that it is to be beyond the understanding of most civilised human beings”.

Griffiths was slammed by the judge during sentencing for his “despicable” crime. Picture: NewsWire / Diego Fedele
Camera IconGriffiths was slammed by the judge during sentencing for his “despicable” crime. NewsWire / Diego Fedele Credit: News Corp Australia

The family of the victim were present in court as Judge Champion spent over two hours laying out the facts of Ms Sheahan’s tragic murder.

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Judge Champion slammed Griffiths for his “despicable” crime, telling the court his remorse was “begrudging at best”.

Griffiths will serve 32 years before being eligible for parole.

More to come

Domestic Violence helplines

Originally published as Man sentenced to life for ‘despicable’ murder of wife he killed by fire

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