Family’s grief at killer sex worker’s sentence

A family say there’s “no justice” in the sentence of a sex worker who killed a young couple and their newborn in a deliberately lit blaze.

A mother whose daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter perished in a deliberately lit house fire says there was “no justice” after their killer was jailed for a minimum eight years.

Jenny Hayes, 48, at the Supreme Court on Friday was sentenced to 13 years’ behind bars with a non-parole period of eight years after she pleaded guilty to three charges of arson causing the deaths of Abbey Forrest, 19, her partner Inderpal Sohal, 28, and their three-week-old daughter Ivy.

Speaking outside court, Ms Forrest’s mother, Elizabeth Forrest, said she felt “absolutely devastated” by the sentence.

“We feel no justice has been done,” she said.

“(It) just absolutely ripped us apart … I just can’t believe the sentence.”

Ms Forrest’s father, Alan Forrest, added it was a “tough day” for his family.

“We thought she would have got more,” he said.

“We feel a bit let down.”

Abbey Forrest, 19, Indi Sohal and their daughter Ivy, 3 weeks, were killed in the blaze. Picture: Supplied

Hayes set fire to the young family’s home over $180 in stolen cash. Picture: Supplied

Hayes, who appeared via video link from custody due to her Covid-19 diagnosis, stared at the ground and wiped away tears as Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth handed down her sentence.

“Losing three loved ones in such terrible circumstances has been heartbreaking for their families and friends. Their lives have been changed forever,” Justice Hollingworth said.

“Not only did you take the lives of Abbey, Indi and Ivy, you also destroyed their loved ones’ dreams of a shared future. Both families feel an immense sense of grief and loss, knowing they will never see Ivy grow up, or get to share all of life’s celebrations and milestones with the young family.”

Justice Hollingworth accepted Hayes did not know the young family were sleeping upstairs and that she was genuinely remorseful upon learning of their deaths.

“You remained distraught throughout your formal record of interview, repeatedly stating that you didn’t know that people were in the house,” she said.

Abbey’s mother, Elizabeth Forrest, talk to the media. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The young family died in their Point Cook home from carbon monoxide poisoning in the early hours of December 2, 2020 after Hayes, who was a sex worker, lit a mattress on fire amid a dispute over sex services with Mr Sohal’s workmate Aakash Aakash who was using the downstairs bedroom.

Drone photographs of the damage to the Totem Way townhouse where the young family were killed.

Aakash had hired Hayes to come over where he paid her $180 for an hour of sexual services.

But when Aakash asked for sex again, Hayes refused prompting him to steal $180 from her handbag and leave.

Hayes sent Aakash a number of angry texts including that she would set his house on fire.

She waited in her car for four minutes before returning to the unlocked downstairs bedroom and setting the mattress on fire.

The home quickly became engulfed in flames with Hayes sending pictures of the blaze to Aakash before she drove away.

It wasn’t until the following day when Hayes was arrested that she learned the young family upstairs had died.

Hayes has already served nearly two years of her sentence.