Canberra axe murderer Marcus Rappel has six years added to sentence

A man convicted of hacking his ex-girlfriend to death as she cradled their newborn baby has had his sentence bumped up after jailhouse bashing.

Marcus Rappel, who is serving at least 26 years for the murder of Canberra mother-of-three Tara Costigan, has been given an extra six years. Picture: Facebook

Tara Costigan’s killer has had his jail term significantly increased after prosecutors successfully appealed a “manifestly inadequate” punishment meted out for a jailhouse bashing.

Marcus Rappel is serving at least 26 years for the murder of his former partner at her Canberra home in February 2015.

Ms Costigan, 28 was cradling their eight-day-old daughter when he hacked her to death with an axe one day after she took out a protection order against him. The horrific crime unfolded in front of her two sons, who were aged just nine and 11.

Last year, Rappel had an extra six months added to his sentence after he was charged over a an attack inside a Canberra jail in 2017, which left two brothers badly wounded.

Marcus Rappel hacked Tara Costigan to death with an axe as she cradled their eight-day-old baby after she took out a domestic violence protection order against him. Picture: Facebook

The sibling inmates’ injuries ranged from a fractured eye socket and broken ribs to head lacerations and a torn ear. Rappel was convicted of the assaults last year and given an extra six months.

But today the ACT Court of Appeal slammed the leniency of that punishment in a scathing judgment, according to the ABC. “The sentences imposed were starkly out of the bounds of what was necessary and appropriate,” it said.

“Mr Rappel, as well as other offenders serving lengthy sentences for crimes of violence, cannot be allowed to think that more of the same can be carried out with impunity, or even with reduced consequences.”

Rappel has had six years added on to his sentence. Picture: Facebook

The sentence increase means Rappel’s non-parole period has been extended to February 2044.

In 2017, he was jailed for 32 years and two months, with a non-parole period of 26 years, for Ms Costigan's murder — a crime that shocked and sickened Australians with its brutality.

“Your actions deprived three children of their mother, including your own infant daughter,” Justice John Burns said in sentencing Rappel. “The effects of your actions will be felt for decades to come.”

Ms Costigan’s sons, who were seven and nine when they witnessed her murder, still have nightmares about it, the court heard. Picture: Facebook

The defendant had to be restrained at the hearing and removed from the courtroom after repeatedly yelling at Justice Burns. He screamed “rights for fathers!” as he was escorted into another room to watch the rest of his sentencing.

The court heard Ms Costigan’s children suffered from nightmares after witnessing Rappel kill their mother and would do anything to have her back.

Justice Burns rated the crime in the worst category of murder, labelling it “vicious and cowardly”.

Instead of going down the peaceful path to resolve the couple’s issues, Rappel resorted to “shameful barbarism”.

Rappel’s motive “was to punish her” for applying for and obtaining an interim domestic violence order against him, the judge said.

After having been served the order, Rappel threatened to “kill that bitch for what she did”, before buying an axe from a hardware store and driving to Ms Costigan’s house.

He smashed down the door and chased her down, striking her twice. Ms Costigan’s sister and her sister’s partner were injured trying to fend off the attack.