Vic: 20 years jail for man who murdered lover over abortion

AAP General News (Australia)
02-17-2006
Vic: 20 years jail for man who murdered lover over abortion

By Mariza Fiamengo

MELBOURNE, Feb 17 AAP - A Melbourne man who murdered his former lover after she told
him she had aborted their child has been sentenced to 20 years jail.

Aneta Pochopien's body was found slumped in her car at her Chadstone home by her husband
Peter after she had finished a night shift at a nearby car component factory on April
14, 2004.

A Victorian Supreme Court jury found Pisey Prasoeur, of Chadstone, guilty of murdering
the 32-year-old mother.

The court heard Mrs Pochopien had a five-month affair with fellow factory worker Prasoeur
and told him via text message on his birthday in September 2003 that she had aborted their
child.

The court heard Prasoeur laid in wait for Mrs Pochopien after she finished a night
shift at the factory and shot her in the head and chest with a sawn-off rifle before she
got out of her car in her driveway.

Justice Kevin Bell said Mrs Pochopien's murder had horrific consequences for her family
and Prasoeur showed no remorse for the crime.

He sentenced the 24-year-old to a 20-year jail term with a minimum sentence of 15 years.

Justice Bell said Prasoeur was devastated by the news of the abortion and after Mrs
Pochopien ended the affair he had killed her out of revenge.

"Anger, hurt or disappointment over the termination of a relationship, or a person's
conduct in a relationship, does not justify violence of any sort, let alone murder," he
said.

"The fact that Mrs Pochopien aborted her pregnancy to you without your knowledge or
consent did not justify her murder."

Justice Bell said the murder had devastating consequences for Mrs Pochopien's husband
and their 12-year-old son Martin.

He said the woman's husband and son were asleep in bed at the time of the murder.

Mr Pochopien was woken by the shots that killed his wife and Martin observed at least
some of the horrific scene, the court heard.

Justice Bell said Mr Pochopien lost his business, had not worked since his wife's death
and the family had returned to their birthplace of Poland because it was too painful to
stay in Australia.

He said Prasoeur was suffering severe depression over the abortion of his child and
the breakup of his relationship with Mrs Pochopien when he committed the offence.

The judge said he took into account the man's youth and his lack of prior convictions.

Outside court, Prasoeur's lawyer Bernie Balmer said his client still maintained his
innocence and they would consider an appeal.

"(We will) digest what his honour has said and we will review the conduct of the trial
and have a look at appeal options," he said.

AAP mf/ce/apm/de

KEYWORD: PRASOEUR LEAD

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