Dinush Kurera pleads not guilty to ex-wife Nelomie Perera’s alleged murder

The former partner of Nelomie Perera, accused of violently stabbing her to death inside a Sandhurst home last year, has denied murdering his ex-wife.

Dinush Kurera allegedly stabbed his ex-wife to death last December.

A man accused of viciously stabbing his ex-wife to death inside her Sandhurst home has pleaded not guilty to murder.

Dinush Kurera, 45, fronted the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday after he was charged with the murder of his former partner, Nelomie Perera, last year.

It is alleged Ms Perera, 43, was killed before midnight on December 3 by her estranged husband in the home she shared with her three children in Melbourne’s southeast.

Mr Kurera has also been charged with intentionally causing injury, as a result of the head injuries suffered by Ms Perera’s 14-year-old son.

Defence lawyer Nadia Giorgianni told the court her client, who appeared via video link from prison, was electing to fast-track his case to the Supreme Court where he will stand trial.

Dinush Kurera (right) has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his ex-partner, Nelomie Perera (left), who was found dead in her Sandhurst home on December 3, 2022.

By choosing to fast-track his case, Mr Kurera waived his right to test the evidence against him at a committal hearing.

No details of the alleged murder were aired in court.

When asked by Magistrate Brett Sonnet whether he pleaded guilty or not guilty to murder and intentionally causing injury, Mr Kurera replied: “Not guilty, Your Honour.”

One of Ms Perera’s close friends told the Herald Sun last year the mother-of-three was “loving and devoted”.

According to the friend, the couple had separated around a year ago after 20 years of marriage.

Mr Kurera was remanded in custody.

He will return to court on April 28 for a directions hearing.