Luke Sekkouah Sentenced to Minimum 24 Years for Partner's Murder

Luke Hanif Sekkouah has been sentenced to a minimum of 24 years in prison for the murder of his partner, Erica Hay, in April 2024. He received a life sentence for the murder and a concurrent seven-year sentence for criminal damage by fire.

Brutal Attack and Aftermath

Sekkouah fatally stabbed Ms. Hay, 30, at her Warnbro home in Perth. The attack inflicted 23 injuries, including to her head, neck, and vital organs.

After the stabbing, Sekkouah left the residence to purchase beer and stole a bottle of turpentine from a grocery store. He then returned to the home and, in the early hours of the following morning, used the turpentine to start a fire.

He subsequently took Ms. Hay's three-year-old daughter to a neighbor's house and asked for emergency services to be called. Police arrived to find Ms. Hay's partially burnt body in the extensively damaged house.

Court Proceedings and Judicial Findings

The Supreme Court heard that Sekkouah's knife attack on Ms. Hay was "sustained, relentless and brutal." The couple had met on Facebook, and their relationship was marked by frequent arguments concerning drugs, money, and another woman. Sekkouah had a history of substance abuse and a previous conviction for unlawful wounding.

Justice Natalie Whitby stated that Sekkouah's actions after the murder, including attempts to misrepresent the situation and cast Ms. Hay as responsible for her misfortune, demonstrated a lack of remorse.

Justice Whitby also noted the profound impact of Ms. Hay's death on her four daughters, who will now grow up without their mother. She highlighted the vulnerability of victims of family and domestic violence, characterizing Sekkouah's offense as being at the "very highest end of the scale."

Impact and Reactions

Following the sentencing, Ms. Hay's mother, Tanya Zubrinich, expressed a sense of relief.

Erica Hay's friend, Amanda Broad, acknowledged the judge's focus on domestic violence but expressed disagreement with the non-parole period. She emphasized Ms. Hay's character as an "adoring" mother dedicated to her children.