The twisted killer who raped and murdered 21-year-old Israeli exchange student Aiia Maasarwe has been jailed for 36 years.
Codey Herrmann, 21, bashed Ms Maasarwe over the head with a metal pole as she was walking home from the tram in Bundoora, Melbourne, on January 16.
Herrmann dragged her into bushes before raping her with such ferocity that she was left with horrendous injuries, including a broken bone in her neck from where he throttled her.
When he was finished, he bashed over the head again with the pole. He later doused her body in WD-40 and set her on fire with a barbecue lighter in a clumsy attempt to destroy his DNA.
Supreme Court Judge Elizabeth Hollingworth imposed a non-parole period of 30 years in the Victorian Supreme Court on Tuesday afternoon.
‘Women should be free to walk the streets alone,’ she said during sentencing remarks.
‘Not only did you take away her life you deprived a family of their precious daughter and sister.’
Codey Herrmann, 21, bashed Aiia Maasarwe over the head with a metal pole as she was walking home from the tram in Bundoora, Melbourne, on January 16
Aiia Maasarwe, 21, was beaten with a metal pole, raped, murdered, and set on fire with a barbecue lighter and WD-40
Ms Maasarwe had just stepped off the tram when she called her sister Ruba Maasarwe.
Ruba had only just picked up the phone when she heard a blood-curdling scream and her sister shouting ‘You piece of s***’,’ in Arabic.
Then the phone went silent as Herrmann carried out his sickening attack.
At Herrmann’s pre-sentence plea hearing earlier this month, prosecutor Patrick Bourke claimed Herrmann had ‘complete and utter disregard for the humanity of the victim’.
‘It strikes at the liberty of all, but of course in particular women, to do no more than walk down a public street in peace and safety,’ he said.
Herrmann himself has been unable to explain why he murdered Ms Maasarwe, and a grovelling letter of apology to her parents failed to provide any answers.
When Herrmann was finished, he bashed over the head again with the pole. He later doused her body in WD-40 and set her on fire with a barbecue lighter (pictured Ms Maasarwe’s father Saeed arriving at the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne on Tuesday)
Ms Maasarwe had just stepped off the tram when she called her sister Ruba Maasarwe (Ms Maasarwe’s other sister Noor Maasarwe pictured)
Earlier this week, Aiia’s father Saeed Maasarwe (pictured arriving at court) had earlier said he didn’t care how long his daughter’s killer was jailed for
‘I’m sorry, your daughter didn’t deserve such a terrible and tragic thing to happen to her,’ the killer’s handwritten letter read.
‘I didn’t expect any forgiveness as I will never be able to forgive yourself and I will be trying to make amends for the rest of my life.
‘There is no excuse. I truly apologise, I will pray for you and your family every day.
‘Don’t give into hate like I did’: Herrmann’s apology letter directed at Aiia’s devastated parents
Aiia’s father Saeed Maasarwe (right) said he didn’t care how long his daughter’s killer was jailed for
Herrmann dragged Ms Maasarwe into bushes before raping her with such ferocity that she was left with horrendous injuries, including a broken bone in her neck from where he throttled her
‘Don’t give into hate like I did.’
Earlier this week, Aiia’s father Saeed Maasarwe said he didn’t care how long his daughter’s killer was jailed for.
‘All the time she smiled. I remember all the time she thinks positive. And she was very, very sensitive,’ he said, according to The Guardian.
‘Our compass is not revenge.
‘We think all the time, our mind, our compass is positive, is not negative.’