Clifford Arthur Neumann jailed for minimum of 22 years after murdering Adelaide mother-of-five Victoria Stewart

The chilling details of a mother’s murder have been revealed in court for the first time, with her daughter saying the killer’s sentence will never be enough to justify their pain.

The chilling details of a Morphett Vale mother-of-five’s murder have been revealed in court for the first time as her family now have to spend a second Christmas without her.
Clifford Arthur Neumann will be behind bars for a minimum of 22 years after he carried out the “brutal and frenzied” attack.

During sentencing on Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard Neumann first met Victoria Stewart 15 years ago when they were part of the same Jehovah’s Witness congregation and reconnected in August 2023 via Facebook.

Clifford Arthur Neumann. Picture: Facebook

He began a friendship and relationship with Ms Stewart.

The court heard in the weeks prior to the murder Neumann became increasingly suspicious Ms Stewart, 40, of Morphett Vale, was still in a relationship with another man.

On November 18, 2023, Stewart asked a friend to message the other man on Facebook to ask if he and Ms Stewart were still together.

“That evening you made the decision to kill Ms Stewart,” Justice Laura Stein said.

The next morning, Neumann continued to obsess about Ms Stewart’s “perceived betrayal” before buying heavy duty clean-up bags and a black duffel bag.

That evening, Ms Stewart arrived at Neumann’s house and sat on the lounge before Neumann grabbed a steel rod and struck her.

“The evidence establishes that you attacked Ms Stewart with ferocity,” Justice Stein said.

After Ms Stewart died, Neumann called police and admitted to his crime.

Clifford Neumann. Picture: Facebook

Arrested in November 2023, Neumann, 40, pleaded guilty to murder on his second court appearance in May.

Prior to his arrest, Neumann has posted several photos of himself on social media, flexing his biceps, and listed his occupation as “professional arm wrestler”.

In September, Ms Stewart’s family denounced Neumann as “a really disgusting, pitiful excuse for a man” who does “not deserve anything in this world”.

The court heard Neumann who had an extremely religious and strict upbringing turned to drugs and alcohol at a young age, and was “obsessed with weightlifting”.

The court heard Neumann, who met the criteria for autism spectrum disorder, told a psychologist he would never be able to forgive himself and felt most guilty about Ms Stewart’s five children now having to live without their mother.

Victoria Stewart. Picture: Supplied by Ms Stewart’s family

After a 15 per cent sentencing discount, Neumann was sentenced to 22 years and 11 months non-parole after a mandatory life sentence.

“The attack you carried out was brutal and frenzied and blows were delivered with terrible force,” Justice Stein said.

“You carried out the attack on a defenceless woman who could do nothing to fend you off.

“There can be little doubt that Ms Stewart would have been terrified and that she suffered during the period of the attack.”

Ms Stewart’s brother Douglas Jones speaks to media outside court. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Ms Stewart’s daughter, Tara Songer told media she misses her mother more every day. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Outside court, Ms Stewart’s brother, Douglas Jones said he was “pretty happy” that Neumann had been given more than the mandatory 20-year sentence.

“She’s the best of us … I feel very proud of who she was,” he said.

Ms Stewart’s daughter, Tara Songer said the sentence was never going to be enough to justify the pain and suffering that her and family had suffered.

“My mum was the most fantastic woman you could ever meet, she was creative, friendly, kind, funny,” she said.

“I miss her a lot. I miss her more every day.”

Originally published as Clifford Arthur Neumann jailed for minimum of 22 years after murdering Adelaide mother-of-five Victoria Stewart