A woman who killed her partner with a cocktail of prescription drugs to take his home and money has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the second time.
Wendie-Sue Dent was found guilty in 2020 of murdering David Lawrence by giving him a lethal dose of her prescription drugs at his Morphett Vale home, in Adelaide's south, in December 2015.
The 64-year-old successfully appealed the finding but was found guilty again earlier this year at a judge-only trial.
Judge Sophie David then sentenced her again to life imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 25 years.
"In the days preceding his death you isolated (David Lawrence) from his family and friends and you sedated him with Valium, you then administered to him the fatal dose or doses of your prescription drugs intending to kill him," Justice David said.
"You did so for financial gain, to obtain the property and superannuation monies that you knew you were to inherit upon his death.
"This was a premeditated murder committed by you upon a generous man who had shown you nothing but kindness and love.
"You were motivated entirely by financial greed."
Society needs 'protection' from Dent
Dent, a former escort who was addicted to opioids and Valium, continues to deny responsibility for her partner's death.
Justice David said Dent's lack of remorse and insight into the offending was a significant consideration in her decision to extend the non-parole from the minimum 20 years to 25 years.
"This was a premeditated murder of your partner for financial gain," she said.
"You have shown no remorse for your actions, you have demonstrated little insight into your actions.
"You are actually a person from whom society requires protection."
Justice David said Mr Lawrence was well-loved by family and friends, many of whom attended the sentencing.
She criticised Dent's behaviour towards Mr Lawrence's family, which included defacing the condolence book at his funeral.
"Your offending has had a terrible effect on all of them," she said.
"Their distress has been exacerbated by your conduct after Mr Lawrence's murder in relation to his estate and ashes.
"Whilst you cannot be punished for that conduct, it has added to the terrible grief experienced by his family."
'We hope she just rots in there'
Mr Lawrence's brother Phillip said outside court that family and friends were relieved by the sentence and grateful to police and prosecutors for their work and tenacity.
"That's a relief – again – for us all," he said.
"She's going to be in jail now for many years, telling her stories to whoever's going to listen to it, and no doubt she's going to come out with more horrific lies into the future.
"At least she'll be entertaining a captive audience from now on, and we just wish that's a long time for her.
"We hope she just rots in there."
Dent has already appealed her second guilty verdict.
