Dayna Isaac’s Killer Paul Sultana Sentenced to 44 Years in Jail for ‘Sheer Terror’ Murder That Shook the Nation
- Paul Sultana, 44, will spend at least 33 years behind bars for the brutal murder of his 28-year-old girlfriend Dayna Isaac in her Penrith apartment in January 2023.
- The NSW Supreme Court heard Sultana waited for hours outside Isaac’s apartment with rope and tape before attacking her when she returned from work.
- Justice Peter Garling described intimate partner violence as a “scourge on modern society” and said Sultana’s crime inflicted “sheer terror” on Isaac in her final moments.
In a harrowing sentencing hearing, Justice Peter Garling painted a chilling picture of Sultana’s jealousy and controlling behaviour in the lead-up to the murder, describing the crime as “very serious” and one that warranted significant punishment.
Sultana’s attack on Isaac was brutal and calculated, with police finding a trail of bloodstains throughout the apartment and Isaac’s body discovered on her bed. The judge said Isaac must have been “terrified” in her final moments, realising that Sultana was intent on taking her life.
In a stark warning to perpetrators of intimate partner violence, Justice Garling declared that such behaviour has “no place at all in our community” and must be met with “significant disapprobation”.
Outside court, Isaac’s father Garry English expressed his grief and frustration, saying his daughter’s killer “got what he deserved” but acknowledging that no sentence could bring his “princess” back. Mr English called for greater education and awareness about domestic violence, urging people to report any concerns.
“Educate kids, aunties, uncles, neighbours. If there’s a problem, please report it,” he said. “People just have to be aware. And if there’s a problem, please tell or ring someone.”
Justice Garling’s scathing condemnation of Sultana’s crime was echoed by Mr English, who said his daughter’s murder had left an unfillable void in his life. “She was my best friend in the whole world,” he said, his voice cracking with emotion. “I just miss her.”
Sultana will not be eligible for parole until 2056, a decision that brings some measure of closure to Isaac’s family but does little to ease the pain of their loss.