MAN SENTENCED TO 26 YEARS FOR MURDER OF ESTRANGED WIFE IN WERRIBEE
"The victim was unarmed and defenseless." — Defense Counsel Chris Hooper
Jessie James Tumaliuan, 42, has been sentenced to 26 years in prison for the murder of his estranged wife, Czarina Gatbonton Tumaliuan, 42, in the backyard of their Werribee home on March 27, 2025. The sentence was handed down by Justice Amanda Fox of the Victorian Supreme Court.
The Incident
On March 27, 2025, after dropping their children at school, Czarina Tumaliuan returned to the family home. Jessie Tumaliuan had been waiting nearby.
According to court testimony and CCTV footage:
- Tumaliuan forced entry into the home, and a verbal argument ensued regarding money.
- When Czarina attempted to call emergency services, the call was disconnected.
- An assault began inside the home, after which Czarina ran outside. CCTV audio captured her screaming for approximately seven to ten seconds before going silent.
- Tumaliuan armed himself with two kitchen knives and chased her into the backyard.
- An autopsy found she was stabbed eight times, including wounds to the neck, head, chest, and abdomen. The fatal wound was to the neck.
After the attack, Tumaliuan called Triple Zero (000) multiple times, refused paramedics entry to the property, but subsequently surrendered to police.
Background and Relationship History
The couple had separated, though Tumaliuan continued to access the shared residence. Court documents show a history of family violence between 2017 and 2025:
- 2017: Documented family violence incident.
- 2018: Tumaliuan was convicted of assault.
- 2022: Further assaults occurred, leading to a five-year contact ban.
- 2024 and 2025: Tumaliuan repeatedly breached intervention orders, was jailed, and was on bail at the time of the murder.
Czarina Tumaliuan had installed security cameras, obtained a court protection order, and reported breaches to police.
Legal Proceedings
Tumaliuan pleaded guilty to one count of murder after receiving a sentence indication from Justice Fox. The court heard:
Prosecution (Nadia Kaddeche): The assault began inside the home, with the victim stating she had been injured before fleeing outside.
Defense (Chris Hooper): Acknowledged the victim was unarmed and defenseless. Submitted that Tumaliuan initially entered unarmed and without murderous intent, claiming his intention was to cause serious injury, not death.
Justice Fox: Stated that Tumaliuan was motivated by financial grievances, anger with police and the court system, and jealousy of his estranged wife's independence. The judge noted that Tumaliuan had no ties to Australia and that he "decimated whatever life he made here."
Sentence
"26 years' imprisonment with a non-parole period of 20 years."
Justice Fox sentenced Tumaliuan to 26 years' imprisonment with a non-parole period of 20 years. The sentence accounts for time already served. Upon release, Tumaliuan is expected to be deported to the Philippines.
Court records indicate he had no diagnosed mental health or substance abuse issues.
Victim Impact
Czarina Tumaliuan was employed by Medibank and ran an online clothing business. A victim impact statement from her son described her as a "super mum." Her mother, Maria Gotencio, described the loss as "permanent and irreversible."
Context
According to Victoria's Crime Statistics Agency, there were 106,430 incidents of domestic violence reported in the 2024-2025 financial year, with approximately 10% being breaches of intervention orders.