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Karen Chetcuti
Karen Chetcuti, 49, was watering her vegetable garden in January 2016 when she was attacked by her neighbour Michael Cardamone, who was on parole.
Karen Chetcuti, 49, was watering her vegetable garden in January 2016 when she was attacked by her neighbour Michael Cardamone, who was on parole.

Karen Chetcuti killer facing harshest possible sentence, judge says

This article is more than 6 years old

Senior judge shocked by details of crime and says Michael Cardamone had ‘not a shred of regret’ about his torture and murder of Victorian woman

One of Victoria’s most senior judges is considering the harshest possible sentence for a killer with “not a shred of regret” about his torture and murder of Karen Chetcuti.

Michael Cardamone, 50, pleaded guilty in June to murdering the mother of two, from rural Whorouly, after she went missing in January 2016 and was later found burnt to death suffering extensive injuries.

“How much worse could it get?” Justice Lex Lasry asked on Monday after the supreme court, sitting at Wangaratta, was told details of the crime.

“I have never declined to fix a minimum term but this is a shocking case.

“He [Cardamone] kept this woman as his prisoner for how many hours? Then took her into the bush and burnt her to death.

“And then for days afterwards he told lie after lie. There’s not a shred of regret or second thought or anything.”

Chetcuti, 49, was watering her vegetable garden on a hot summer night when attacked by her neighbour, sedated with horse tranquilliser, tied up with rope and duct tape and likely left bound for hours in his shed.

Cardamone injected her with battery acid and methamphetamine, fractured her skull, sexually assaulted her and finally drove her to remote bushland, doused her in petrol and set her on fire while she was still alive.

The chief crown prosecutor, Gavin Silbert QC, outlined the case against Cardamone, adding that it read like “something from The Sopranos”.

The judge flagged the prospect of sentencing Cardamone to life in prison without parole.

But defence lawyer Patrick Tehan said a non-parole period should be given because Cardamone pleaded guilty, admitting the killing, sparing a trial.

Chetcuti’s battered and burnt remains were discovered by search teams in the Lake Buffalo area five days after she went missing.

Cardamone lied to police before and after his arrest, claiming another man – who helped torch Chetcuti’s car – killed the woman.

While in custody, he also tried to arrange for a hitman, who was actually an undercover police officer, to murder and frame a key witness in the case.

At the time of the murder, Cardamone was on parole after serving prison time for raping a 15-year-old girl in 2005.

Family and friends of Chetcuti broke down in tears and several had to leave the court room during Monday’s plea hearing.

Chetcuti’s mother Clary Verbunt read a victim impact statement to the court, saying her daughter’s “precious life came to an undeserving and terrible end”.

Cardamone is due to be sentenced on Friday.

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