By Amber Johnston
A bodybuilder who used six knives to stab to death his partner in front of her 10-year-old daughter is fighting to have his sentence reduced.
Friends of Monique Lezsak say Sven Lindemann doesn’t deserve leniency and a harsh sentence should serve as a deterrent for perpetrators.
Lindemann was jailed for 31 years after stabbing Lezsak 17 times in a jealous rage at her Endeavour Hills home in May 2023. He was sentenced to 30 years for the murder of Lezsak and another year for recklessly causing injury to her daughter when she tried to stop him killing her mother.
The 52-year-old, who will be eligible for parole in 25 years, pleaded guilty to murder and recklessly causing injury to Lezsak’s daughter.
After the attack, Sven Lindemann transferred $71,000 between bank accounts, tried to call his ex-wife and then turned the knife on himself.Credit: Facebook
When sentencing Lindemann in May, Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth said the attack was unprovoked and motivated by his anger at Lezsak’s plan to leave him.
“You were motivated by jealousy, rage and a sense of entitlement,” Hollingworth said.
“It’s clear you had trouble dealing with the fact that the relationship is over … it was clear you were extremely angry at the prospect of Ms Lezsak being interested in someone else, or wanting to end the relationship.”
Lindemann has formally lodged his appeal, in which three judges will decide if his sentence should be cut short. The appeal is expected to be heard next year.
Monique Lezsak
Lezsak’s friend Jacqueline Schwarcz said she had always struggled to come to terms with her grief
“Without sounding too dramatic, it’s ruined our lives, things have changed overnight,” she said.
“The penalty is not harsh enough to scare these men into double thinking their actions.”
Schwarcz said the killer’s claims of good behaviour haven’t convinced her there is any merit to his appeal.
“First I laughed, I cannot even understand how a human being can be wired like this,” she said. “It’s ‘the Sven show’ and he’ll do anything he can to make it about him”
Jacqueline Schwarcz, a close friend of Monique Lezsak, speaking outside the court.Credit: Wayne Taylor
During Lindemann’s trial, the court heard that Lezsak’s daughter told Lindemann to “leave my mother alone” as he shouted at Lezsak: “You’ve ruined my life.”
After the attack, Lindemann transferred $71,000 between bank accounts, tried to call his ex-wife and then turned the knife on himself. Hollingworth labelled the money transfer “particularly calculated”.
Lezsak’s daughter rang triple zero and told police her mother had been injured. “Please help me. My mum is dead,” she said on the phone, crying. “Stay with me, Mum, stay with me.”
When police arrived, Lezsak’s daughter was found sitting next to her mother, covered in her blood.
Lindemann, who has a tattoo of Jesus on the left side of his neck, didn’t react as his sentence was read out. In a previous hearing, Hollingworth told Lindemann to stop his “crocodile tears” as he sobbed in court.
If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).