Sven Lindemann (left) arrives at the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne on Friday, May 03, 2024. Sven Lindemann, has been charged with murder over the fatal stabbing of his partner Monique Lezsak in Endeavour Hills on May 30, 2023. Ms Lezsak's 10-year-old daughter was also injured in the attack. (AAP Image/Diego Fedele) NO ARCHIVING
UPDATE: In a shocking development, Sven Lindemann, the 53-year-old bodybuilder who brutally murdered his ex-partner, Monique Anita Lezsak, has had his appeal denied by the Victorian Court of Appeal. This ruling came on December 8, 2023, confirming that Lindemann will serve a 31-year prison sentence with a 25-year non-parole period.
Lindemann’s violent attack occurred in Endeavour Hills, where he fatally stabbed Lezsak, 39, in front of her children and mother. Authorities report he used a total of six knives, breaking two during the “frenzied” assault that targeted her head, neck, and chest. Disturbingly, Lezsak’s 10-year-old daughter tried to intervene, sustaining five knife wounds to her hands and arm.
The judges, Kristen Walker, Rowena Kerr, and Peter Kidd, decisively rejected Lindemann’s argument that his sentence was “manifestly excessive.” They emphasized that the murder was a “very serious example” of domestic violence, resulting in a profound impact on the lives of Lezsak’s family.
In their ruling, the judges stated,
“This was a very serious example of murder… the applicant took the life of his intimate partner, physically harmed her child, and forever changed the lives of her family and others close to her.”
Lindemann’s claims about his sentence exceeding those of other intimate-partner murders were labeled “too simplistic” by the court. Additionally, his assertion that the original judge failed to consider his good character and potential burdens in prison was dismissed as unfounded.
The case has sparked significant public interest, leading to recommendations from State Coroner John Cain for a public campaign to raise awareness about the risks associated with controlling and coercive ex-partners. Cain has also urged the Victorian Government to establish a support service for children affected by domestic homicides—currently, many families are forced to seek help interstate due to a lack of local resources.
In a related development, the government has pledged to create a new crime addressing coercive controlling behavior against partners, following a recent vote against a similar bill proposed by the State Opposition.
As Lindemann’s appeal is officially denied, the community remains on high alert regarding issues of domestic violence and the urgent need for comprehensive support systems for victims and their families.
Stay tuned for further updates on this evolving story as it continues to develop.
