Rebecca Payne Sentenced in Husband's Murder

Rebecca Payne, 45, who was convicted of murdering her abusive husband Noel by feeding him drug-laced biscuits and locking him in a freezer, has had her sentence reduced from 16 years to 12 years after a successful appeal. The Victorian Court of Appeal agreed that Payne had endured over a decade of severe abuse, which contributed to her actions. Initially sentenced in March 2023, her maximum prison term was adjusted to allow for parole eligibility after seven years instead of ten. The judges noted the significant toll the abusive relationship took on her life, stating she lost her thirties and would now face losing her forties due to her incarceration. Payne has already served over four years and is expected to be eligible for release in approximately three years. The case highlights the complexities surrounding domestic abuse and the legal responses to it.