Brendan Kantilla sentenced to life behind bars after murdering international student
The NT Bangladeshi community have expressed their relief and continued pain after an international student’s killer was sentenced to life behind bars. Read what was said.
The NT Bangladeshi community have shared their continued pain in the wake of a life sentence being handed to the man who murdered an international student in 2023.
Brendan Kantilla has been handed a mandatory life sentence for the murder of 23-year-old Md ‘Sifat’ Isfaqur Rahman.
Kantilla was found guilty of murdering Mr Rahman on Monday, after breaking into his Milner home and striking him on the head with a paving stone and fire extinguisher while he slept in May 2023.
Justice Sonia Brownhill sentenced the now 31-year-old on Thursday at the Darwin Supreme Court handing down a life sentence with no chance of parole for 20 years.
Ms Brownhill found Kantilla had marked Mr Rahman’s home in his mind following an altercation outside over a cigarette prior to the attack.
He then returned to the home an hour later, recognised the victim as he slept and struck him over the head and as he began to convulse hit him again so as not to wake Mr Rahman’s housemates.
Kantilla was discovered anyway and chased from the home after attempting to steal items from the home and later found by police near the Rapid Creek Shops.
Meanwhile, Mr Rahman died after being his friends had rushed him to hospital.
The CDU Bangladeshi Student Association released a statement of their relief that Kantilla had been handed a life sentence for his actions, but their pain of their friend’s death remained.
“The Supreme Court jury previously found Brendan Kantilla guilty of murdering Bangladeshi student Isfaqul Rahman (Sifat) in 2023, confirming that there was intent to cause serious harm,” they said.
“Today, we are relieved to share that the offender has been sentenced to life imprisonment, with no possibility of parole before 20 years.
“After many months of waiting, justice has finally been served, and the community is satisfied with the outcome.
“This judgment does not erase the pain of losing Sifat, but it brings closure and a strong message of justice.
“Let us honour Sifat’s memory, stand with his family, and hold faith that justice always finds its way.”
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Originally published as Brendan Kantilla sentenced to life behind bars after murdering international student
