Tanya Hinrichsen eligible for parole in mid 2026 after second sentencing for role in Steven Hinrichsen’s murder
She gave her house keys to her lover and another man who brutally killed her disabled husband - then took a photo of his body. Now she’s been sentenced.
Police & Courts
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A woman who helped her new lover and his friend kill her sedated, vulnerable and disabled husband has been sentenced for the second time – and could be out next year.
On Friday, Justice Anne Bampton said twice convicted killer Tanya Hinrichsen, 47, could only be sentenced for agreeing with the two men to have her husband – 63-year-old Steven Hinrichsen – assaulted.
Hinrichsen was not present when her new lover Gavin Skinner and his friend Robert Thrupp stabbed, bashed and smashed a framed photograph over Mr Hinrichsen – but she did provide them with her keys to the home.
Justice Bampton said Mr Hinrichsen was heavily sedated by painkillers when the two men subjected him to 65 “applications of force” which resulted in 71 injuries – some consistent with efforts to defend himself from the onslaught.
The court heard Mr Hinrichsen sustained stab wounds to his chest, back, head, hands and feet.
Her Honour said Hinrichsen had found Mr Hinrichsen’s bloodied body – and sent a photo of it to Skinner while calling the police.
Mr Hinrichsen’s children said Hinrichsen “deserved to be in jail for the rest of your life” while her own denounced and disowned her as their mother.
Hinrichsen, 47, was found guilty by a jury in 2021 – alongside Skinner – of murdering Mr Hinrichsen at their Morphett Vale home.
They were jailed for life, with non-parole periods of 22 and 24 years respectively.
Thrupp, was found guilty of manslaughter for his involvement.
Following an appeal Hinrichsen’s conviction was quashed by a majority Court of Appeal ruling.
However, during her second arraignment before a second trial in November 2024, the 47-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter – which was accepted in satisfaction for one count of murder.
The court heard Hinrichsen had been diagnosed with bipolar personality disorder and has participated in behavioural therapies in custody to treat and assess it – and was eager to continue treatment upon release.
Her Honour said Hinrichsen was in a “tense triangular relationship” and “desperately” wanted to be in a relationship with Skinner – who she considered her “future husband”.
The court heard Hinrichsen had continued to receive letters from Skinner following their incarceration, but she had never responded and discarded them all.
Justice Bampton sentenced Hinrichsen to nine years and six month imprisonment – reduced from 10 years due to her guilty pleas.
Her Honour fixed a non-parole period of seven years, seven months and seven days backdated to her arrest.
Hinrichsen was arrested on December 15, 2018 – meaning she will be eligible for parole as early as July 2026.
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