'Demonic' rapist who cut off his housemate's toes and beat him to death in their backyard is jailed for 33 years
- Daniel Hounslow beat Micah Kawalek, 49, up to 40 times at Melbourne property
- He led an intoxicated Mr Kawalek into the backyard by the neck before attack
- Hounslow, 40, has previous convictions including eight rape convictions
- He was jailed for 33 years and must serve 26 years before he is eligible for parole
A Melbourne man trying to put his life back together was 'mercilessly and brutally' bashed to death by a man who promised to look after him.
Over two hours, Daniel Hounslow beat 49-year-old Micah Kawalek up to 40 times and cut his toes off at the Wyndham Vale property they shared in March last year.
'You acted on the deep-seated hatred you irrationally felt for him,' Supreme Court Justice Andrew Tinney said on Thursday as he sentenced him to at least 26 years in jail.
Daniel Hounslow (pictured) beat 49-year-old Micah Kawalek up to 40 times at the Wyndham Vale property they shared in March last year
Hounslow led his intoxicated victim into the backyard by the neck before he launched his attack.
'You then beat him mercilessly and brutally for in excess of two hours, taking occasional breaks to regain your energy,' Justice Tinney said.
The 42-year-old killer kicked, punched and stomped on Mr Kawalek before he wrapped a dressing gown cord around his victim's neck.
Hounslow had been freed from prison three months before the fatal attack and had a lengthy criminal history, including eight convictions of rape.
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Mr Kawalek struggled with mental health and alcohol issues but was working to put his life back on track, Justice Tinney said.
Hounslow had even spoken with his victim's wife and promised her he would look after him.
'You promised his wife you would look after him and you did exactly the opposite,' Justice Tinney said.
Daniel Hounslow departs the Supreme Court of Victoria, Thursday, June 18, 2020.
His heartbroken widow Julie wept in court on Thursday.
She previously labelled her husband's killer as 'demonic' and that he spread 'crazy stories' about her husband.
'Not only did you kill my husband but you killed me emotionally,' she said at a pre-sentence hearing.
Hounslow was convinced Mr Kawalek was actually his brother and falsely claimed his victim poisoned him, was involved in human trafficking and put child pornography on his phone.
'At the very start of your association with Mr Kawalek you felt a powerful desire to hurt him,' the judge said.
The innocent victim died as a result of Hounslow's 'delusional beliefs'.
'Your victim was an entirely blameless man who had the great misfortune to spend the last days of his life in a house with you,' Justice Tinney said.
He labelled the killer as a 'very dangerous man' who despite his mental impairment knew what he was doing.
'Throughout it all you knew what you were doing was morally, legally and in every sense wrong.'
Hounslow was jailed for 33 years and must serve at least 26 before he is eligible for parole.
