Paul Charlton jailed for 19-years for murdering Melbourne TV singer and mum Joanne Howell

Paul Charlton sat quietly as he was told he would likely die in jail for the brutal murder of his ex-partner Joanne Howell in an “extreme act of domestic violence”.

Joanne Howell was found dead in her Hughesdale in April 2007. Picture: Supplied

Remorseless killer Paul Charlton will likely spend the rest of his life in prison for the brutal murder of his ex-partner Joanne Howell.

Sixteen years after he bashed and strangled the TV singer to death inside her Melbourne home, Charlton was on Wednesday jailed for 24 years with a non-parole period of 19 years.

In his sentencing remarks, Supreme Court Justice James Elliott said the 69-year-old had shown no remorse, noting he applied for victims of crime compensation despite being her killer.

“You brutally murdered Ms Howell in her own home when she was entitled to feel safe,” he said.

“(It) was an extreme act of domestic violence.”

Paul Charlton received his sentence via video link. Picture: Aaron Francis

Lisa Hennessy, sister of Joanne Howell who was murdered by Paul Charlton, outside the Supreme Court in August. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Outside court, Lisa Hennessy said she was happy with the sentence but nothing would bring her sister back.

“I’m feeling over the moon,” she said.
“He got what he deserved.”

“We’ve been fighting for 16 years ... we always had that hope.”

Charlton appeared in court via video link from prison because he told correctional staff he was too sick to attend in person.

Wearing prison greens, he looked downcast and sat quietly at a table during the hearing.

Justice Elliott said Charlton lived freely in the community for more than 13 years but was now facing the “full consequences” of his crime.

“Given your age there is a very real prospect you’ll spend the rest of your life in custody,” he said.

In April 2007, Charlton ambushed Ms Howell, 51, striking the back of her head and strangling her inside her Hughesdale unit in Melbourne’s southeast after she threatened to leave him.

A forensic expert found Ms Howell was likely hit with a “broad surface” weapon which knocked her out before she was strangled to death, though no weapon was ever found.

Neighbours said they heard a “thud” about 9.15pm.

Charlton told police he took his dog, Bundy, for a two-hour stroll and returned to find her battered body at the bottom of a staircase.

He called triple-0 about 11.20pm stating she was unconscious and her face was covered in blood.

Joanne Howell was 51 when she was killed. Picture: Supplied

Ms Howell was attacked from behind in her home. Picture: Supplied

Charlton was arrested but denied involvement, later putting forward other suspects and asking police to find a silver car he claimed was parked on the street on the night of her murder.

Justice Elliott said Charlton damaged the garage door to give the impression she was attacked by an intruder, also claiming to police she would still be alive if he had been there.

Police considered Charlton to be a prime suspect in her killing but charges were not laid until 2021.

The couple’s relationship was tumultuous in the lead-up to her death, with friends saying Ms Howell had given him weeks to move out.

At trial his lawyers tried to pin her murder on a stranger or an ex-boyfriend.

But it took a jury just one day of deliberations to find him guilty after a three-week trial.

Charlton, who was on bail during the trial, collapsed and was taken to hospital when the jury returned their verdict in July.

Ms Howell was a mother and accomplished singer who starred on the music show Countdown in the 1970s.

In 2018, Charlton received a suspended sentence for child sex offences.

Charlton’s lawyer previously said his client was in poor health and likely to die before he reached the end of his sentence.

With time served, he will be eligible for supervised release in 2042 when he is aged in his late 80s.

If he lives to see the end of his sentence, Charlton, who moved to Australia from the UK as a child, will likely be deported or held in an immigration detention centre as he never applied for Australian citizenship.