Judge: ‘I’ve never seen a (killer) more devastated or remorseful’

A JUDGE has described a killer with links to the Bali Nine as “devastated and remorseful” as she sentenced him to jail for the murder of his former girlfriend.

A KILLER with links to the Bali Nine who was found standing over the dead body of his ex-girlfriend has been jailed over her murder.

Khanh Thanh Ly, 37 was today sentenced to at least 13 years behind bars over the killing of Miming Listiyani, 27, in Sydney.

Ly pleaded guilty to the murder after he was seen dragging her naked body into the shallows of the Parramatta River in April 2016.

Acting Justice Jane Mathews in the NSW Supreme Court on Wednesday sentenced him to 18 years in prison with a non-parole period of 13 years.

“Her multiple injuries were consistent with her head having been banged in the concrete pavement a number of times,” Justice Mathews told the court.

Justice Mathews told the court Ly placed Ms Listiyani’s body under a bush, went back to the pub to get his car, put her body in the boot and drove to Cabarita Park. Witnesses called police when they then saw Ly drag her body towards Parramatta River.

Ly tried to hide in some mangroves but was eventually restrained by police using capsicum spray.

“He displayed signs of extreme intoxication, his speech was slurred and slow, and he was unable to give his name or say where he lived,” Justice Mathews said.

Justice Jane Matthews told the court she had rarely seen a case where the offender was as devastated and remorseful.

Ly avoided the death penalty in Indonesia more than a decade ago when the infamous Bali Nine were captured.

Khanh Thanh Ly leaves court at the committal hearing into a drug smuggling syndicate at the Brisbane Magistrates Court in 2006. Picture: Jodie Richter.

Miming Listiyani was murdered. Picture: Facebook.

Miming Listiyani’s dead body was faked naked in shallow water. Picture: Facebook.

The killer has already served time in jail for his links with the Bali Nine. He worked closely with that drug syndicate and was good friends with Myuran Sukumaran, who was later executed alongside Andrew Chan.

Ly, who was codenamed “Buddha” by the group, was heavily involved in the Bali Nine ring, even accompanying members of the Nine on an aborted drug run to Asia. He was jailed for seven years in December 2007 after he pleaded guilty to conspiring to import heroin into Australia.

After his arrest, Ly broke ranks with the other conspirators and gave evidence against them — including old school-friend Sukumaran — who he said drew him into the heroin smuggling trade.

Ly, who was once an accounting student from Lidcombe in Sydney’s west, is the son of Chinese and Vietnamese refugees.