Triple murderer Max Sica launches new appeal over record 35-year sentence

A man who strangled his girlfriend to death in a fit of jealous rage before killing her two young siblings in their Brisbane home has launched a new appeal bid after new laws were introduced.

Max Sica pictured in 2003 after the siblings were murdered. Picture: Richard Webb

Triple murderer Max Sica has used new laws to launch a fresh bid at appealing his conviction for the killing of his then girlfriend and her two siblings more than 20 years ago.

On Easter Sunday 2003 Sica visited his girlfriend Neelma Singh, 24 at the Brisbane home of her parents, who were in Fiji.

In a fit of jealous rage he strangled her to death then killed her siblings Kunal, 18, and Sidhi, 12.

It would be nearly a decade before the killer was brought to justice. On July 6, 2012, Sica was handed the toughest non-parole term in Queensland history with a minimum 35 years behind bars after a jury found him guilty.

As a murderer he was automatically handed a life sentence.

Sica had professed his innocence throughout his 80-day trial, and called Queensland’s justice system “corrupt” after being found guilty of all three murders.

Siblings Neelma, 24, Kunal, 18, and Sidhi Singh, 12, whose bodies were found in a Bridgeman Downs home in Brisbane. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

But an appeal in 2013 was rejected with the court determining Sica failed to establish any of his six grounds for appeal.

The court also found there was no error of the sentencing judge’s discretion when he gave Sica the toughest non-parole period ever handed down in the state.

In 2020 then Queensland Governor Paul de Jersey refused Sica’s pardon petition.

Last year new laws introduced by the State Government established a right for “subsequent appeals” against conviction on the grounds of fresh and compelling evidence or new and compelling evidence that a miscarriage of justice has occurred.

Sica will first have to convince the Court of Appeal that he has “fresh and compelling” evidence relating to his case before it will grant him leave to appeal.

Sica’s appeal application was briefly reviewed in court on Wednesday.

Max Sica, pictured in May, 2003, with a stuffed toy given to him by Neelma in his bedroom at his Stafford Heights home. Picture: Lyndon Michielsen

Barrister Kylie Hillard, appearing with barrister Joseph Crowley, on behalf of Sica said the defence would be making an application for production of documents from the The John Tonge Centre related to DNA testing that had been undertaken. A number of experts would also be providing affidavits, she said.

Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Caroline Marco said she would first have to see the application before deciding whether to oppose or consent to it.

Court of Appeal Justice David Boddice said he understood the appeal to be centred on the forensic evidence that was led at Sica’s trial.

Sica lodged his notice of appeal in January of this year.

The matter will be reviewed at a later date.

Originally published as Triple murderer Max Sica launches new appeal over record 35-year sentence