Violent killer Sigaragh “Steve” Baea gets at least two years added to 17 year minimum after Port Phillip Prison bashing
A VIOLENT killer who blamed getting angry easily for murdering his mate’s mum has had his prison term extended for the jailhouse bashing a fellow inmate.
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A VIOLENT killer who blamed getting angry easily for murdering his mate’s mum has had his prison term extended for the jailhouse bashing a fellow inmate.
Sigaragh “Steve” Baea, 24, is serving a 17 year minimum for the crazed killing of his childhood friend’s mother who he stabbed more than 30 times.
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Today he had at least two years added to that term for what a County Court judge described as a “sustained and brutal” assault on a fellow Port Phillip Prison inmate, understood to be a serial rapist.
Baea gave no reason for the attack inside a protection unit at the prison.
He punched his victim four times to the face, knocking him to the ground, before punching him another 15 times.
The October 2017 attack sparked a prison lock down and left Baea’s victim unable to return to general population inside Port Phillip for three months
Baea pleaded guilty to a single count of intentionally causing serious injury over the attack.
He was sentenced to five years and nine months imprisonment with judge Carolene Gwynn ordering two years of that term be added to his current sentence.
She said there was no psychiatric or psychological material to explain Baea’s offending or mitigate his sentence.
In 2016 Baea butchered Prasad Prasad Somawansa, 48, with a kitchen knife in a frenzied attack while she was alone in her Hoppers Crossing home.
In sentencing Baea to a maximum jail term of 22 years, Supreme Court judge James Elliott said the reason behind the brutal slaying remained a mystery.
“No understandable motive has ever been identified,” Justice Elliott said.
The court heard Papua New Guinean-born Baea had rekindled an old friendship with Mrs Somawansa’s son, Wishhasad, and was jealous of the family’s bond in the face of his own difficult upbringing.
Baea had eaten dinner at the family’s home with Mrs Somawansa and Wishhasad, before Wishhasad, an SES volunteer, received an emergency call.
Wishhasad dropped Baea at Werribee plaza, but the killer then returned to the home.
Justice Elliott said Mr Somawansa, who was away, received a phone call from his wife at 8.52pm, in which he heard her say “you go out” three times before she made loud noises.
“You proceeded to kill Mrs Somawansa with that kitchen knife you had on you.
“Many of the wounds you inflicted were deep.
“You only stopped stabbing her when she fell on the floor,” Justice Elliott said.
He described the murder as a “vicious” and “cowardly” attack on somebody who “only showed you hospitality and courtesy.”
Baea later claimed wine he had been drinking had been spiked the night of the killing.