The daughter of a man who brutally murdered her mother has spoken out, saying she knows her father doesn't regret his actions.
Samar Shlemoon, 42, was stabbed to death by her husband Alam Al-Qas Soomo in their Sydney home in 2020.
The incident occurred just nine days after he threatened her with a knife and belted their daughters when they tried to intervene.
A History of Violence and Abuse
The court heard that Al-Qas Soomo had a long history of domestic violence, fueled by his delusional jealousy and controlling behavior.
He would often lock his wife in their home, deny her funds, and humiliate her in vile ways.
The couple's daughters, Soneevia and Sonia, lived in fear of their father and were often caught in the middle of his violent outbursts.
A Daughter's Pain and Sorrow
Soneevia spoke out in court, saying she thinks about her mother's death every day and wonders what she could have done to prevent it.
"I didn't get a chance to hug her one last time," she said, her words a heartbreaking tribute to the mother she lost.
She also expressed her desire to be buried next to her mother, so she could stay with her forever.
The Devastating Impact on the Family
The Al-Qas Soomo children were left with nothing but each other after their mother's death.
The court was told that the family had migrated to Australia from Syria in 2019, with little support and a foreign language to navigate.
The crown prosecutor, Mark Hay, highlighted the significant damage done to the children by their father's actions.
Justice and Accountability
Al-Qas Soomo was deemed unfit to stand trial due to his psychotic disorder, which was characterized by a delusional belief that his wife was being unfaithful to him.
However, the judge found that his disorder did not stop him from knowing that killing his wife and abusing his children was wrong.
Al-Qas Soomo is expected to learn his minimum sentence on March 14 and will face a further review by a mental health tribunal before his release.
If You or Someone You Know Needs Help
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, there are resources available to help.
You can call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline on 13 11 14, or beyondblue on 1300 22 4636.
