Melbourne man Shane Robertson jailed after murdering his girlfriend with barbell in jealous rage

A Melbourne man has been sentenced to up to 24 years in prison after bludgeoning his girlfriend to death with a barbell in a jealous fit of rage.

A Melbourne man has been sentenced to up to 24 years in prison after bludgeoning his girlfriend to death with a barbell in a jealous fit of rage. Source: Facebook

Katie Haley’s legacy will be her family’s campaign against the horrifying domestic violence that cost her life.

The 29-year-old was savagely murdered in her Melbourne home last March, but it’s her loving personality and “trademark smile” that her parents and siblings want remembered.

Melbourne’s Supreme Court was today filled with family and friends wearing red to honour the Red Heart Campaign to end violence against women and children, as her killer Shane Michael Robertson, 29, was sentenced to up to 24 years behind bars.

He must spend at least 19 years in jail before being eligible for parole. Robertson had been Ms Haley’s partner for more than four years and “claimed to love her”, Justice John Champion said.

Boyd Unwin (centre), father of victim Katie Haley, speaks to media with family members outside the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne.

The mother-of-two ended their relationship because of his increasingly controlling and possessive ways. She was murdered the same night.

“It was accepted that in the months before you killed Ms Haley you demonstrated extreme jealousy and controlling behaviour, and that your offending was motivated by a desire for possessive control over Ms Haley,” Justice Champion said.

He was jealous of friends she made in a new job, secretly watched her work, and made fake social media profiles to quiz co-workers about her. The savagery of the “terrible and grossly violent” attack on her was significant, Justice Champion said. He described the crime scene as “gruesome and horrific”.

They had argued about his behaviour after returning from dinner and putting their one-year-old daughter to bed on March 9 last year.

Bianca Unwin (centre right), the sister of victim Katie Haley, is seen outside the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne.

In an “uncontrollable rage” and intending to kill her, Justice Champion said Robertson struck Ms Haley at least five times to the head and face with a heavy iron barbell.

He called his mother and confessed to killing Ms Haley. He drove their daughter to his parents’ house and fled on foot. Robertson was arrested in a paddock the following day and admitted his crime to police.

Ms Haley’s father, Boyd Unwin, said Robertson told him six days earlier that he had never touched her and her sister, Bianca Unwin, said being decent human beings they believed him.

“I hope the images of what he’s done haunt him, because it does us,” Mr Unwin said.

“I hope that the ‘K’ he has tattooed on his neck reminds him that he’s a killer, pure and simple.”

Katie Haley pictured with Shane Robertson.

But Ms Haley shouldn’t be defined by her death, nor should the 11 women and three children who have been victims of fatal family violence in Australia already this year, he added.

Ms Unwin said supporting the Red Heart Campaign on Wednesday was to honour its promotion of awareness of violence against women and children.

“We thought it was only fair we wear red, we be bold, we make a statement and we hope that people will spark change because Katie deserved better,” she said. “We all deserve better and we need to be better.”