Killer bodybuilder’s ‘crocodile tears’ in court after he stabbed girlfriend to death as daughter, 10, tried to save her
A KILLER bodybuilder cried “crocodile tears” in court after he brutally stabbed his girlfriend to death as her 10-year-old daughter attempted to save her.
Sven Lindemann, 52, plead guilty to the horrific murder of Monique Lezsak in a “ferocious” six-knife attack.
He appeared in the Victorian Supreme Court at a presentence hearing on Friday and wailed loudly in the dock as the chilling details were read out.
Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth scolded the killer demanding he “stop the crocodile tears.”
“It’s not remotely persuasive. It’s a bit late for him to pretend he’s remorseful.
“The evidence is completely to the contrary. He still maintains she ruined his life, he doesn’t accept that he killed her and ruined his own life,” she said.
Lezsak’s heroic 10-year-old daughter was injured as she tried to intervene and stop Lindemann from killing her mum.
Prosecutor Kristie Churchill said Lindemann attacked Lezsak with a knife shortly after 7.30am on May 30 last year.
The night before, the pair had argued after Lezsak ended the relationship after she fell out of love with him and said she had feelings for another man she’d met in Queensland.
That night she contacted a number of friends saying their discussion had been “intense” and she was “worried he’d do something stupid”.
The couple had been together for five years after they formed a bond over their mutual passion for bodybuilding.
Lindemann had left his wife and children in South Australia to pursue the relationship, the court was told.
Churchill said Lezsak’s daughter, given the pseudonym Lily, ran into the bedroom to see her mother being stabbed by Lindemann.
She told the court the knife broke, before the murderer dragged Lezak to the kitchen where he grabbed another knife and continued his attack.
“He continued stabbing her while Lily got between the offender and her mother,” she said.
The court heard that Lily was able to disarm Lindemann twice, and two knives broke during Lindemann’s vicious outburst.
Lindemann used six knives in total to carry out his merciless assault, with a medical examiner later finding seven stab wounds and 10 slashing wounds.
Lily called triple-0 saying her mother’s boyfriend had killed her because she was breaking up with him.
“My heart’s shattered in pieces,” she said.
Lindemann was found at the back of the house naked with “significant wounds to his chest and abdomen”, Churchill said.
“Police immediately attempt to stem the bleeding and the offender tells police that he doesn’t want to be saved, and to ‘let me go’,” she said.
Lindeman spent more than a week in hospital before he was taken into custody.
In jailhouse conversations with his parents, he blamed the attack on Lezak.
He was recorded saying: “She shouldn’t have started something with the other man.
“That’s why, that’s why, it was as though she poured petrol onto the fire.”
“That woman wrecked everything for me,” he added.
Lindemann’s barrister, Lucinda Thies, asked Justice Hollingworth to take his early plea of guilty, lack of prior criminal history and good prospects for rehabilitation into account during sentencing.
She argued there was “little or no premeditation” before the attack, and said some comments made by Lindemann showed remorse.
The court was told forensic psychologist Dr Patrick Newton found he held problematic gender-based attitudes, and his steroid use may have increased the level of violence.
Justice Hollingworth, who adjourned the case for sentencing at a later date, told the court Lindemann had committed the “terrible” act after a day of “seething”.
“He was so angry he dragged her through the house, he grabbed six different knives and was able to break two of them in the process,” she said.
“He was not deterred by a 10-year-old girl trying to stop him … He was out of control, ferocious and determined to kill her.”
Lindemann, from Adelaide, is a self-confessed “gym junkie”, according to his social media.
The man is also a father to two children of his own and had been dating Lezsak for several months before she was killed, it was reported.
Lezsak’s death came just days after Lindemann posted on Instagram: “Don’t forget that you are going to die… and you don’t know when.”
The Instagram message about death was on a list of “10 bitter truths” posted by Lindemann.
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.