Reo Te Whetu Marama Marsh, aged 39, has been sentenced to life imprisonment following his guilty plea for the murder of 25-year-old Mary Benedito, which occurred during a holiday on the Gold Coast in November 2021. The sentencing took place at the Supreme Court in Brisbane, where Justice Lincoln Crowley characterized the crime as 'extremely violent,' emphasizing that it was part of a controlling pattern in Marsh's relationship with Benedito. Their troubled history included shared responsibilities as parents to an 11-month-old son at the time of the murder, which added layers of tragedy to the case.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Marsh's actions stemmed from jealousy and an inability to accept the end of their relationship. His violent outburst involved beating and strangling Benedito, a horrific display of domestic violence that has raised concerns over how such conduct is addressed in the justice system. The judge highlighted the significance of the crime, not only for Benedito's life but also for the implications it holds for their child, who will now grow up without his mother due to this violent act.

Marsh is required to serve a minimum of 20 years in custody before he is eligible to apply for parole, a decision that reflects the seriousness of his offense and serves as a message about the consequences of such extreme acts of violence. This case resonates deeply within the conversation around domestic violence in Australia, raising awareness of its prevalence and the need for societal and institutional changes to protect vulnerable individuals from similar fates.