Iranian refugee who told his wife he'd kill her before he divorced her is jailed for stabbing her in the head 60 times in a jealous rage

  • Amir Homayoun Darbanou, 44, used a large knife to stab Nasrin Abek in the face 
  • He fatally stabbed his wife 60 times during a frenzied attack driven by jealously 
  • Judge jailed him for 21 years with non-parole period of 15 years and nine months 

By Australian Associated Press

Published: 23:02 EDT, 1 November 2018 | Updated: 23:02 EDT, 1 November 2018

An Iranian migrant who fatally stabbed his wife 60 times during a frenzied attack likely driven by jealously has been jailed for at least 15 years.

Amir Homayoun Darbanou, 44, used a large knife to stab Nasrin Abek in the face, chest, throat and arms before leaving her body in their unit in Sydney's Potts Point in September 2016.

Supreme Court Justice Julia Lonergan noted his early guilty plea on Friday, when she jailed him for 21 years with a non-parole period of 15 years and nine months.

Amir Homayoun Darbanou (right), 44, used a large knife to stab Nasrin Abek (left) in the face, chest, throat and arms before leaving her body in their unit in Sydney's Potts Point

Amir Homayoun Darbanou (right), 44, used a large knife to stab Nasrin Abek (left) in the face, chest, throat and arms before leaving her body in their unit in Sydney's Potts Point

Supreme Court Justice Julia Lonergan noted his early guilty plea on Friday, when she jailed him for 21 years with a non-parole period of 15 years and nine months (Ms Abek pictured)

Supreme Court Justice Julia Lonergan noted his early guilty plea on Friday, when she jailed him for 21 years with a non-parole period of 15 years and nine months (Ms Abek pictured)

But she threw out attempts by Darbanou's counsel to reduce the sentence because of mental health issues related to alcohol and delusions.

'Jealously and rage and a sense of entitlement over a domestic partner ... is an ugly and abhorrent feature of (crimes of this type),' Justice Lonergan said.

'It was a frenzied and purposeful attack on the deceased, likely driven by jealously.'

The couple from Tehran arrived in Australia via Indonesia in 2013 and were granted refugee status within months.

The judge threw out attempts by Darbanou's counsel to reduce the sentence because of mental health issues related to alcohol and delusions

The judge threw out attempts by Darbanou's counsel to reduce the sentence because of mental health issues related to alcohol and delusions

Ms Abek (pictured) was stabbed more than 60 times in the face, chest, throat and arms

Ms Abek (pictured) was stabbed more than 60 times in the face, chest, throat and arms

Justice Lonergan said their 12-year marriage was marked by issues of domination and control and Ms Abek had spoken about how her husband didn't allow her to attend medical appointments alone.

The part-time hairdresser confided in a work friend that her husband had told her he wouldn't divorce her and would kill her first, Justice Lonergan said.

On the day of her murder, Ms Abek was out to lunch with that friend when Darbanou approached them and said he'd been 'walking in the area'.

Darbanou was allegedly enraged that Ms Abek (pictured) had recently converted to Christianity and killed his wife in a frenzied knife attack

Darbanou was allegedly enraged that Ms Abek (pictured) had recently converted to Christianity and killed his wife in a frenzied knife attack

He then waited for his wife to return to their apartment before stabbing her to death, abandoning her body, lying to police and claiming his wife had been unfaithful.

Ms Abek's mother, Rahimeh Bagheri, earlier told the court she has felt as though her 'heart is on fire' since her daughter's horrific murder.

'He took my daughter by force. She did not even want to leave Iran and after a few years he sent her lifeless body back to me,' she said in a statement.

With time already served Darbanou will be eligible for parole in mid-2032. 

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