An Indian man has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for murdering a fellow international student and attempting to kill another during a drunken stabbing attack in Melbourne’s south-east.
Robin Robin, 30, was sentenced in the Victorian Supreme Court on Friday for the murder of Navjeet Singh Sandhu, 22, and the attempted murder of Sharwan Singh, 30, in Ormond in May 2024.
Robin was sentenced to a maximum of 27 years’ imprisonment, with a 20-year non-parole period, after a jury found him guilty. He had claimed self-defence during the trial.
It is reported that the court heard Robin had been drinking whisky with friends at his Ormond home while celebrating his brother Abhijeet Abhijeet buying a car.
Sharwan later left the gathering to play cards at Navjeet’s home without saying goodbye, which angered Robin.
Robin repeatedly called Sharwan, abused him and demanded that he return home. He then told his housemate he was no longer welcome and threatened to put his belongings on the street.
When Sharwan returned with Navjeet to collect his possessions, Robin attacked him with a knife, stabbing him in the chest.
Justice Andrew Tinney described the attack as “unprovoked and uncalled for” and said Robin had acted with “murderous anger”.
Navjeet intervened to help his friend but became the focus of Robin’s violence. The court heard Robin grabbed Navjeet by his shirt collar and repeatedly stabbed him as he attempted to escape.
Navjeet suffered fatal injuries to his heart and lung and died. Sharwan survived the attack.
Justice Tinney said the violence was “extreme and wanton”, carried out against innocent victims in public and causing fear in the community.
The judge also rejected claims that Robin had shown genuine remorse, pointing to his decision to flee Victoria with his brother after the attack. They were arrested in NSW two days later.
“Your lack of regret and remorse for your offending has persisted until the present time,” Justice Tinney said.
Navjeet’s father, Jitender Sandhu, watched the sentencing by video link and said his son’s death had shattered the hopes and dreams of the entire family.
Robin has already spent more than two years in custody and is expected to face deportation to India after completing his sentence.
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