Ex-Deakin University lecturer Adam Brown jailed for fatally stabbing wife, Chen Cheng

A former Deakin University lecturer who killed his wife in a knife fight over kindergarten plans will spend at least 17.5 years in prison for his “abhorrent” crime.

A former Deakin university lecturer who fatally stabbed his wife during an argument about kindergarten arrangements has been jailed for his “morally abhorrent” conduct.

Adam Brown, 41, closed his eyes and looked down as he was sentenced on Tuesday to 24 years’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of 17.5 years after pleading guilty to the murder of his wife Chen Cheng, 35, at their family home in Croydon North last year.

Wearing a black suit, the senior communications academic was supported by family seated in court as Supreme Court Justice John Champion denounced his crimes.

”It is clear you had an opportunity to stop, put the knife down, and walk away from the argument,” Justice Champion said.

“Instead you engaged in what you knew to be morally abhorrent behaviour.”

“You have permanently impacted the lives of so many people and caused tremendous pain.”

Adam Brown was sentenced to at least 17.5 years in prison for killing his wife, Chen Cheng. Picture: Facebook

After his arrest, Brown told police he was arguing with Ms Cheng over kindergarten arrangements for their three-year-old son, who was inside the home at the time, leading to insults being hurled at each other on April 30, 2022.

Brown claimed Ms Cheng spat in his face and armed herself with a knife, prompting him to do the same before a fight erupted in the kitchen and spilled into the backyard where she was stabbed in a struggle.

“We were basically at each other with knives,” he told police.

But Justice Champion noted the disparity between Brown’s minor injuries and Ms Cheng’s “catastrophic” wounds, saying he did not accept that Brown had armed himself because he was fearful for his life.

He said Ms Cheng was alone and physically smaller than her husband which suggested an attack rather than a struggle took place.

“There is no excuse for what you did,” he said.

“You committed a savage and sustained attack.”

Chen Cheng had stab wounds to her neck and chest. Picture: Digital zones/Adam Brown

Justice Champion said Ms Cheng, who died from stab wounds to her neck and chest and had multiple incised and defensive injuries, fought for her life during the “terrifying” attack.

Forensic psychiatrist Andrew Carroll told a pre-sentence hearing he suspected Brown had been triggered by humiliation or fear into a “highly aroused state” prior to his wife’s murder.

“He was in a state of rage that was clearly directed towards the victim,” he said.

Ms Cheng underwent mental health treatment following the traumatic birth of their son in 2020, which, along with other stressors including the death of Brown’s brother and a miscarriage, strained the couple’s relationship.

Brown’s lawyer David Hallowes told an earlier hearing there was no excuse for his client’s actions but their relationship was under pressure due to Ms Cheng’s mental health.

“It’s clear Adam Brown was struggling to cope,” he said.

“There was fear about what was happening to his family unit.”

Family attend the sentencing hearing for Adam Brown. Picture: Nicki Connolly

In the lead-up to her death, neighbours gathered outside the home after hearing Ms Cheng’s screams including: “Help me, help me, he’s trying to kill me.”

After they banged on the garage, Brown let them in where they found Ms Cheng lying bloodied in the backyard.

Neighbours commenced CPR as they waited for police to arrive but she died at the scene.

In a victim impact statement, Ms Cheng’s mother Min Liu described her daughter’s murder as like a “spear piercing through my heart”.

Justice Champion said Ms Cheng’s murder was yet another “regrettably common” example of a male killing his female partner in Australia.

He accepted Brown was remorseful for his actions and had entered a guilty plea at the earliest possible time.

With time served, Brown will be eligible for supervised release in 2039.