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AAP
AAP
National
Joanna Guelas

Wife killer sentenced to 24 years in jail

Shahab Ahmed has been jailed for 24 years after a retrial for murdering his wife. (Peter Rae/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Khondkar Fariha Elahi knew that if she died, it would not be of old age or illness.

"If I die in 2017, that cannot be a natural death. Please investigate my death," she wrote in her diary on February 17, 2017.

The next day, the 29-year-old was stabbed 14 times by husband Shahab Ahmed in their Parramatta unit and died in hospital.

Ahmed, 40, was found guilty of murdering his wife by a jury in October 2022 following a retrial.

He was sentenced on Friday to 24 years in jail, dating back to his original imprisonment in 2017, with a non-parole period of 18 years.

"A defenceless woman was murdered in her home by a man who purported to love her," Justice Natalie Adams told the NSW Supreme Court.

"This is a case where a woman was controlled by a man who finally kills her when he cannot have her."

Justice Adams could not be satisfied that Ahmed was substantially impaired by his adjustment disorder at the time of the stabbing.

"He intended to kill his wife. Just because the murder wasn't planned, it was still serious," she told the court.

Ms Elahi had become unhappy with her marriage, complaining to friends about the controlling and violent behaviour Ahmed would display when she talked about separating, the judge said.

He threatened to kill himself if she divorced him.

After being alerted to an affair between a mutual friend and his wife, Ahmed had "flew into a jealous rage about the inevitability of his wife's departure", Justice Adams said.

Ahmed had picked up a kitchen knife, telling Ms Elahi that he would kill her if she shouted.

Upon reading intimate messages between his wife and their friend, Ahmed stabbed her repeatedly while Ms Elahi begged for forgiveness, Justice Adams said.

Ahmed then smoked several cigarettes next to her dead body for over 10 minutes before calling the police, saying an ambulance was not needed.

Ms Elahi's father now spends time in her childhood bedroom in Bangladesh weeping silently, Justice Adams said.

"Death will only bring the end and wipe our memories of her from us," he wrote in a victim impact statement.

Ahmed, who was sentenced to 27 years' jail with at least 21 to be served before parole after his first trial, sat emotionless as he appeared in court via video link.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

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