Mandy Melzer: School teacher murdered by childhood sweetheart in ‘brutal’ attack in Gippsland

A jilted former mortgage broker murdered his childhood sweetheart, a retired school teacher, in a “brutal” domestic violence attack in Gippsland.

Former Victorian schoolteacher Mandy Melzer was killed by her partner, Trefor Kingdon, at the remote hobby farm they were renting in country Victoria. Picture: Supplied

A retired school teacher Mandy Melzer was brutally murdered by her partner at the remote hobby farm they moved to after the former high school sweethearts rekindled their relationship.

Trefor William Kingdon, 65, a retired Perth mortgage broker, on Tuesday pleaded guilty to murder in the Supreme Court at Melbourne, where Crown Prosecutor Kristie Churchill said Ms Melzer’s death was yet another “violent and brutal attack on a woman in her own home, where she was entitled to feel the safety and sanctity of that environment”.

The two first met at school in the 70s, before reuniting in 2019, and eventually moving in together at the rented hobby farm at Bendoc, in Gippsland, just south of New South Wales.

Mandy Melzer was murdered by her partner, Trefor Melzer, at their remote hobby farm in country Victoria. Picture: Supplied

Ms Melzer’s two adult daughters, from a previous relationship, Georgia and Alexandra Head, told the court they were devastated at the loss of their mother.

Alexandra Head said she was “haunted by (Kingdon) in my dreams”, and that he robbed her mother of the chance to be a grandma.

“You have taken my sense of safety and trust in the world,” she said.

Georgia Head said she could not fully express the pain Kingdon had inflicted on the Melzer family.

Kingdon, a former mortgage broker, repeatedly stabbed Ms Melzer in the early hours of May 12, 2020, after she told him she wanted to end their brief relationship.

The night before Kingdon murdered Ms Melzer, the two had a meal with a close friend who was visiting, but began arguing after their friend went to bed.

Former Perth mortgage broker Trefor Kingdon has pleaded guilty to murdering his partner, Mandy Melzer, and could spend the rest of his life in jail. Picture: Supplied

“I want you … to leave tomorrow,” Ms Melzer said in a message to Kingdon in the hours before he murdered her.

After stabbing Ms Melzer repeatedly, Kingdon went into the room their friend was staying in and told him: “I think I’ve killed Mandy”.

Justice Lex Lasry told the court Kingdon had no criminal record and no history of violence, but might now die behind bars.

“His release from custody, if that occurs … he’s going to be a very old man,” Justice Lasry said.

Kingdon’s barrister, Rishi Nathwani, said his client was a model citizen until he murdered Ms Melzer, having dedicated himself to his career, the Kiwanis club, and to his two children from his previous marriage.

Mr Nathwani said Kingdon’s murder of Ms Melzer was “completely and utterly out of character”.

Justice Lasry will sentence Kingdon at a later date.