A man who murdered his partner in Western Australia’s north after subjecting her to years of physical abuse has been sentenced to life in prison and must serve a minimum of 19 years.
Warning: This article contains the name of an Aboriginal person who has died. It also contains graphic details readers may find disturbing.
Samuel Jade Lincoln Jingle, 37, stabbed and strangled the victim, known as Ms Murray, in December 2024.
Family and domestic violence support services:
If you need help immediately, call emergency services on Triple Zero.
Women’s Crisis Line: 1800 811 811Men’s Referral Service: 1300 766 491The Kids Helpline: 24-hour support on 1800 55 1800Lifeline: 131 114
On Tuesday the WA Supreme Court heard Jingle stabbed the 32-year-old 14 times and strangled her with a belt.
Ms Murray’s aunt tried to intervene but Jingle was too big, and she sought help from men he had been drinking with.
Justice Michael Gething described the attack as “impulsive and unsophisticated”, saying Jingle had a “high level of anger”.
The court heard Jingle had been drinking heavily and using methylamphetamine, and that Ms Murray was physically smaller and vulnerable.
Jingle and Ms Murray had been in an on-again, off-again relationship for 10 years, marked by “distrust and conflict”, the court heard.
The woman died in the West Australian town of Fitzroy Crossing in December 2024. (ABC Kimberley: Andrew Seabourne)
Jingle had committed violence against her before and served terms of imprisonment for some offences.
Justice Gething said the case against Jingle, who was 35 at the time of the killing, was strong.
He had pleaded guilty to murder.
His minimum sentence of 19 years was backdated to December 2024.
‘Loving, kind and respectful’
Speaking outside court, Ms Murray’s brother, Gavin Smith, said the family was happy with the sentence, but were still hurting.
The victim’s brother, Gavin Smith, travelled to Perth for the sentencing. (ABC News: David Weber)
He said he wanted people to remember his sister as a loving person.
“Loving, kind and respectful person, happy-go-lucky lady, my little sister,” he said.
“I’m hoping we don’t experience this kind of behaviour in the Kimberley anymore, with violence and all this stuff happening on a regular basis.”
Mr Smith said he believed something could’ve been done before, in relation to Jingle’s “abusive behaviours”.
Ms Murray was the mother of three children.