Poisoning murderer Wendie-Sue Dent jailed for life with a 25-year minimum term for killing lover David Lawrence in 2017
She poisoned her lover to set herself up financially for the rest of her life – but all remorseless murderer Wendie-Sue Dent accomplished was a guarantee she’ll be in jail until she’s 82.
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She hatched a callous scheme to seduce a gentle man, prey upon his kindness, separate him from his family and then murder him, so his estate would secure her financial future.
But on Monday, Wendie-Sue Dent’s long-running machinations were brought to an end – leaving her with nothing to look forward to except a quarter-century behind bars.
The drug addict and serial con-artist showed no reaction as the Supreme Court jailed her for life, ordering she be ineligible for parole until January 2042.
In a scathing set of sentencing remarks, Justice Tim Stanley said Dent deserved no mercy for taking the life of her lover, David Lawrence.
“This kind, generous, gentle man was besotted with you, and you exploited his attraction for your own financial benefit … ultimately, you killed him for your own financial gain,” he said.
“Not only have you demonstrated no contrition or remorse, but you have compounded the suffering of his siblings by your continued pursuit of his money.
“That demonstrates your dedication to pursuing your plan to enrich yourself through his murder with no regard to the impact that would have on those who loved him.”
Dent, 62, of Dapto in NSW, was found guilty at trial of having murdered Mr Lawrence in December 2015.
She is only the third woman to have been convicted, in an SA court, of murdering their partner or spouse since the turn of the century.
In 2003, Julie Michelle Dunn was found guilty of murdering her partner, Graham Wilks, by lacing his curried-egg sandwich with a sedative, then beating him to death.
In 2007, June Busson was convicted of murdering her cancer-stricken husband, Dennis, by stabbing him to death in their bed so she could move on with another man.
In Dent’s trial, jurors found she had poisoned him with her medication – including 20 100mg tablets of morphine – to claim his $300,000 estate.
She also falsified paperwork, including a will, to be named his sole beneficiary and told lies in an attempt to undermine the tight-knit Lawrence family.
Last month, the Lawrences broke their five-year silence over the case in a damning, jointly-written victim impact statement.
They told Dent she was a selfish, remorseless, outlandish liar whose life is “a waste”, saying she deserves only a “meaningless existence” in jail.
Dent’s counsel, meanwhile, argued her drug addiction and health issues meant she should be sentenced on the basis of having suffered from “diminished responsibility”.
In sentencing on Monday, Justice Stanley rejected that submission, saying it was unsupported by the evidence and therefore totally without basis.
“I’m satisfied (your drug addiction) is a significant factor in explaining your prior criminal offending,” he said.
“It may also have contributed to the many and varied fantastical claims you have made about your life and career.
“But I do not accept it was in any way a cause of your deliberate actions resulting in the death of Mr Lawrence.”
He said it would never be known whether Dent poisoned Mr Lawrence herself or “induced him” to consume the lethal “cocktail” – but also said that did not matter.
“It makes no difference to your culpability in his death,” he said.
“This was a premeditated murder motivated by a desire for financial gain, accompanied by an intention to kill.”
He imposed a life sentence with a 25-year non-parole period, backdated to her January 2017 arrest, then told court staff to “take her away”.
Outside court, Mr Lawrence’s nephew Blake thanked prosecutors and SA Police for their tireless efforts to secure Dent’s conviction.
He also thanked the jury, which opted to sit on through the COVID-19 pandemic rather than cause delays to the case.
“We are very pleased the court has passed a 25-year sentence (that makes it) likely Dent will spend the rest of her life behind bars,” he said.
“There is still no remorse … she exploited David, he was a kind, gentle and loving person and she took advantage of that.
“She is a callous, remorseless individual, and we’re glad to see her behind bars.”
Dent has already filed an appeal against her conviction, arguing the jury’s verdict is unsafe, unsatisfactory and disproved by Viagra and an engagement ring.