Twice-convicted poisoning murderer Wendie-Sue Dent jailed for life a second time, but has already filed another appeal

Twice convicted of murdering her lover, this black widow begins her life sentence today – but has already filed yet another appeal, traumatising her victim’s family.

Every victim of crime has a long wait for justice but, even with David Lawrence’s killer behind bars, there is no respite for his grieving family.

The Lawrences’ seven-year ordeal should have ended on Friday, when the Supreme Court jailed his lover and murderer, Wendie-Sue Dent, for life with an 25-year non-parole period.

Instead, the family faces another year of uncertainty because, despite having been convicted twice, Dent has filed yet another appeal protesting her innocence.

On Friday, Mr Lawrence’s brothers Phillip and Rodney said Dent’s latest sentencing brought neither relief nor closure.

Wendie-Sue Dent during her first trial. Picture: Sam Wundke

“I had been looking forward to today thinking ‘it’s the last time she’ll see the light of day’, but instead it’s become just another day in court,” Rodney said.

“My biggest fear now is her getting a second retrial and the prosecution saying ‘sorry, we’re not going to pursue it’.”

Phillip said the “seemingly endless” cycle of trial and appeal was not only “intensely frustrating” but also unfair.

“Neither the prosecution, nor us, nor David himself could appeal had Dent been found not guilty, yet she can continue to do so on frivolous grounds,” he said.

David Lawrence. Source: SA Police

Dent following her arrest. Picture: Nine News

“They used to say ‘the judge’s decision is final’, but that’s no longer the case … the judge doesn’t get the final word, nor does the evidence or the victims – the final word is her word.”

Dent, 64, of Dapto in NSW, murdered Mr Lawrence, 63, in 2015 using her medication – including 20, 100mg tablets of morphine.

She also falsified documents, including wills, to cement her hold on Mr Lawrence’s $300,000 estate and repeatedly lied about the manner and cause of his death.

On Wednesday, Dent’s counsel told the court her client’s lifelong drug addiction and “pattern of relationships with bad men, prior to Mr Lawrence” arose from “childhood trauma”.

They said she had told prison psychologists that her medications “are the reason I’m here, they are what killed David”, and she blamed them for “all the worst moments in her life”.

Phillip Lawrence, left, and his brother Rodney, right. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

They asked Justice Sophie David to “remember that abused child” when sentencing Dent – but still insisted she was innocent of the murder.

In sentencing on Friday, Justice David said the only link between Dent’s addiction and the murder was it gave her the weapons needed to kill Mr Lawrence.

“This was a premeditated murder committed by you upon a generous man who had shown you nothing but kindness and love,” she said.

“You were motivated entirely by financial greed ... you are actually a person from who society requires protection.”

Outside court, Phillip Lawrence said his family had no choice but to “roll with the punches” and prepare for yet another appeal hearing.

“The frustration is that this should all be over … she’s been found guilty twice, and yet still there is this endless struggle,” he said.

“When does it stop? I just don’t see how it will ever stop.”