Bali wife gets 12 years for Aussie’s murder

An Indonesian who ordered the killing of her Australian businessman husband in Bali has been handed a 12-year jail sentence.

An Indonesian who ordered the killing of her Australian businessman husband in Bali has been handed a 12-year jail sentence by the Denpasar District Court for premeditated murder.

Noor Ellis, also known as Julai­kah Noor Aini, 45, had plotted the murder of her wealthy husband Robert Ellis, 60, last October and could have been given the death penalty.

One of the couple’s two Perth-based sons, Peter Ellis, 20, speaking on behalf of family members who had travelled from New Zealand and Australia, expressed disappointment and hoped prosecutors would appeal against the sentence.

The family had pushed for life imprisonment or 20 years. “We as a family are extremely dis­appointed with the outcome,” Mr Ellis said after the verdict.

“We would have expected a sentence of at least 20 for the brutal, premeditated murder of our father. For the verdict to be … only 12 years is unjust, not only for us as a family but Indonesia in general.

“We’re very upset about the accusations against our father which Noor herself has fabricated in order to defend herself.’’

Noor was accused of having financial motives for the murder. During the trial she blamed Ellis for infidelity, leaving her with insufficient money and mistreating her. “We are also still in disbelief over the falsified statements which are now being used as evidence to support Noor and would have thought such forgery was both a crime in itself and further evidence of guilt of Noor and other accomplices,” Mr Ellis said yesterday.

“Our father Bob was a loving father, grandfather, brother, son and husband who leaves an enormous hole in the lives of everyone he touched.”

Two of the five hitmen Noor paid $14,000 to be shared among them — Urbanus Yohanes Ghoghi, 23 and Yohanes Sairokudo, 23 — were also sentenced yesterday to 12 years’ jail. During the trial they had admitted trying to suffocate Ellis with a pillow and towel but said when he fought back they slit his throat.

Though she had previously confessed to her part in the murder, Noor said she had only ordered that her husband be taught a lesson. The couple’s sons, John, 23, and Peter have disowned her.

Ellis, who had amassed a multi-million-dollar fortune with property in Indonesia, New Zealand and Australia, had been trying to extricate himself from his wife. He had applied for Indon­esian citizenship so he could transfer property from Noor’s name to his own.