‘Irrational’ coward who murdered girlfriend learns fate

A “jealous” Thai national bashed his girlfriend to death in an insecure and drunken rage fuelled by an ill-founded belief.

WARNING: Graphic content.

A chef who murdered his partner in a “terrifying” attack during an “insecure and jealous” drunken rage because she was serving customers at a restaurant where she worked has been sentenced to at least 16 years in jail.

Natthawut Tammajanta, 30, on Wednesday learnt his fate after pleading guilty to murdering his partner Manthana Khantharat inside their Shellharbour unit on the NSW south coast in December 2022.

Ms Khantharat died as a result of blunt force head injuries suffered in a sickening assault during which she hid in a bathroom only for Tammajanta to break down the door and kill her.

“The deceased’s final moments must have been terrifying,” Justice Natalie Adams said in her sentencing remarks on Wednesday.

“The ‘motive’ for the attack was an ill-founded belief that by serving customers in the restaurant she was somehow being unfaithful to the offender.”

The court was told that Ms Khantharat, 37, also known as “Nancy”, died during a “sustained attack” throughout the Albion Park Rail unit she shared with Tammajanta.

Coward Natthawut Tammajanta murdered his girlfriend Manthana Khantharat inside their Albion Park Rail unit. Picture: Supplied.

The Thai national was due to stand trial in the Wollongong Supreme Court last year, but days before it was due to begin, he admitted to bludgeoning his girlfriend to death by striking her in the body and face.

Ms Khantharat moved to Australia in 2019 and she began dating Tammajanta in 2022 when they were working together at a Sydney Thai restaurant.

But his violent nature soon became apparent.

Her roommate heard arguing when he was drinking and she was seen with bruising around her eye.

Tammajanta was witnessed being verbally aggressive towards her at work when she served a customer before they moved to Shellharbour to work at another restaurant.

But the same problems reared their head and he was seen yelling at her.

She confessed to a workmate that Tammajanta was abusive and had hit her while drinking.

On December 18, 2022, Tammajanta was seen consuming wine during his shift and appeared intoxicated.

Later that evening, neighbours heard the couple fighting before he was seen in the driveway yelling for “help”.

He told a colleague: “I’ve had a slip-up, can you call the ambulance for me?”

Tammajanta will spend at least 16 years and four months in prison.

Inside their home, Ms Khantharat was found unconscious lying face up.

Broken glass and Ms Khantharat’s blood were found throughout the apartment.

Tammajanta lied to police about injuries to his hands, saying he suffered them at work.

He admitted to pushing her, kicking her legs and pulling her by the hair and he told officers he did not use “that much force” on her.

She had suffered bruising and scratches to her face, neck, arms, chest and legs and broken bones in her ribs and left and right forearms.

The court was told that forensic evidence established that Ms Khantharat managed to hide from Tammajanta in the bathroom during the attack, but he broke the door down to continue his cowardly assault.

“By the time the offender’s hands were photographed the following day they can be seen to be bruised and swollen from the assault,” Justice Adams said.

“Although the assault was not planned, I am satisfied that it arose from the offender’s ongoing and irrational controlling behaviour.”

Tammajanta was on Thursday sentenced to a maximum of 23 years and four months in prison, with a non-parole period of 16 years and four months.

He will first be eligible for release in April 2039.