A general view of the Supreme Court in Melbourne, Australia, on Aug. 20, 2019. Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
A remorseless murderer whose offence at an unspoken goodbye resulted in a frenzied drunken stabbing has been jailed for more than two decades.
Robin Robin, 30, was found guilty by a jury of murdering Navjeet Singh, 22, and attempting to kill Sharwan Singh, 30, in Melbourne’s southeast in the early hours of May 5, 2024.
He sat with his head bowed, listening to a Hindi interpreter as Justice Andrew Tinney sentenced the killer to 27 years’ imprisonment with a minimum of 20 years in the Victorian Supreme Court on Sept. 11.
The court needed to show “condemnation and abhorrence” of the “outrageous violence” that was spurred by the killer’s “murderous anger,” the judge said.
“Your violence was extreme and wanton, carried out on innocent victims in public and causing fear in the community,” he told Robin.
The killer had been drinking whiskey with friends all evening at his Ormond home to celebrate his brother Abhijeet Abhijeet buying a car.
When his housemate Sharwan left the party to play cards at Navjeet’s place, Robin became incensed and repeatedly called to abuse him and demand he return.
He was offended his housemate had left without saying goodbye, the judge said.
Robin told his housemate in an “unfair ultimatum” that he was no longer allowed in the house and said he would throw his belongings out onto the street.
As Sharwan and Navjeet returned to collect his items, Robin unleashed on his housemate in a drunken rage, stabbing him in the chest in an “unprovoked and uncalled for” attack.
A “brave” Navjeet intervened, only for the killer to focus his fury onto him, grabbing his shirt collar and repeatedly stabbing him as he tried to escape.
Sharwan survived the attack, but Navjeet died from knife injuries to his heart and lung.
Robin and his brother fled interstate before being arrested in NSW two days later.
During the trial, defence barrister John Desmond said Robin had regret and remorse for his actions, despite arguing self-defence against his surviving victim.
Justice Tinney rejected Robin’s expressions of sorrow and regret to police, pointing to his decision to flee, leaving Navjeet dying on the roadway.
“Your lack of regret and remorse for your offending has persisted until the present time,” he said.
Navjeet’s father Jitender Sandhu, who said his son’s death had shattered the hopes and dreams of the entire family, watched the sentencing over video link.
So did civilian witness Ella Cross, whose testimony highlighted the far-reaching effect of violent crime on the community.
Robin gave an acknowledging glance towards two supporters in court as he was led out.
The murderer has already served more than two years in pre-sentence detention and faces being deported back to India upon release.
By William Ton in Melbourne
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