Samantha Fraser’s ex husband Adrian Basham given life for brutal murder

The Supreme Court gallery erupted in applause as the cold blooded killer of devoted Phillip Island mother Samantha Fraser was sentenced for his ruthless crime.

The estranged husband of Samantha Fraser has been jailed for life over his “abominable” killing of the devoted Phillip Island mum.

Clapping erupted throughout the courtroom after Supreme Court judge Lesley Ann Taylor told Adrian Basham, 46, on Monday he deserved to spend the rest of his years behind bars.

Justice Taylor said Basham had shown no remorse and still maintained when he left Ms Fraser, after assaulting her at her Cowes home on July 23, 2018, that she was still alive.

“The suggestion that Samantha Fraser took her own life, after you had brutally beaten her, is ludicrous,” Justice Taylor said.

“Ms Fraser lived in abject fear of you.

“You had made threats that you would destroy her.”

Samantha Fraser who was murdered by her husband Adrian Basham on Philip Island. Picture: Supplied

Samantha’s friends and family are still fighting for change through the 'Change for Sam' charity. Picture: Supplied

She said Basham did everything possible to ensure he could not be pinned for the crime, parking his motorbike away from the scene, and walking with a hood up to Ms Fraser’s home where he lay in wait for more than 2 hours for her to return from school drop offs.

He also had left his mobile phone behind.

“Your offending was extremely grave,” Justice Taylor said.

“You approached the home and secreted yourself and lay in wait.”

She said as Ms Fraser drove into her garage, Basham pounced, and “savagely assaulted” her.

The mother of three had sustained 41 injuries to her body.

“You subjected her to a beating,” Justice Taylor told Basham.

Basham was sentenced for murdering his ex wife Samantha Fraser on Phillip Island. Picture: NewsWire

“You then tied a noose around her neck and hanged her in the garage.”

She described his conduct as “abominable”, “cold” and “premeditated”.

“You intended and planned for Ms Fraser to die,” she said.

The brutal killing occurred a day after Ms Fraser’s 38th birthday.,

A court order prohibited him from going anywhere near the mother of three.

Ms Fraser was found hanging after failing to pick up her children from school.

She was due to testify against Basham at a court hearing the following week over allegations he had raped her.

Cold blooded killer Adrian Basham. Picture: Supplied

Basham will spend the next 30 years behind bars for his horrendous crime. Picture: Supplied

Justice Taylor accepted the upcoming court case was a motive for his premeditated execution.

His anger over no longer having control over Ms Fraser following their separation in April 2017, and a looming financial settlement, also contributed to his actions, she said.

Basham pleaded not guilty, but was found guilty by a jury following a five-week trial.

Even after the verdict, he maintained his innocence.

“You are utterly without remorse,” Justice Taylor said.

“You do not accept the returned jury verdict.

“You continue to maintain that Ms Fraser took her own life.

You are unmoved by the detailed statements about the pain you have caused your children.”

In jailing him for life, Justice Taylor said she was required to set a non-parole period of 30 years.

This would mean, she said, “if and when” he was ever to be released, he would be in his 70s.