A man was sent to prison for the violent and frenzied killing of a mother in Adelaide due to his obsession with her.

In a tragic and horrifying event, a woman named Victoria Stewart was brutally murdered by a man named Clifford Arthur Neumann, who has now been sentenced to nearly 23 years in prison. The court found him guilty of premeditated murder and handed down a minimum term of 22 years and 11 months. This incident was one of four unrelated deaths of women in South Australia that occurred in just one week in November 2023, prompting the government to launch a royal commission into domestic and sexual violence.

Neumann and Stewart had known each other for about 15 years, having been members of the same Jehovah's Witness congregation. They reconnected on Facebook in August 2023, but Neumann's hopes of starting a relationship with Stewart were shattered when he became suspicious of her and thought she was still in a relationship with someone else. Justice Laura Stein noted that Neumann's mild to medium level of autism likely played a role in his obsessive thoughts and plans to kill Stewart, as he had difficulty understanding social cues and emotions.

On November 19, Stewart visited Neumann's home where he carried out his plan to kill her with a steel bar. The attack was described as premeditated, brutal, and frenzied, with Neumann delivering blows with terrible force. Justice Stein spared the details of the gruesome attack out of respect for Stewart's family, but she made it clear that Neumann had attacked a defenseless woman who could not defend herself.

After the murder, Neumann was consumed with guilt and grief and eventually turned himself in to the police. Although his autism diagnosis was taken into consideration, it did not lessen his moral culpability or the severity of his actions. Justice Stein acknowledged that Neumann had shown remorse and had prospects for rehabilitation, but she also emphasized the devastating impact of his actions on Stewart's family. In their victim impact statements, they expressed deep grief, anguish, and bewilderment over the loss of their loved one.

Justice Stein stressed that the murder of someone in a relationship context is abhorrent and deserving of the highest level of condemnation. Despite a 15% sentence discount for his early guilty plea, Neumann will spend over 22 years in prison before he is eligible for parole. Outside of the court, Stewart's family expressed some relief at the sentence, but they also acknowledged that no amount of time in prison can make up for the pain and suffering they have endured. They described Stewart as a caring mother and a wonderful person, and her loss has left a hole in their lives that can never be filled.

In the wake of this tragedy, it is important to remember that support is available for those who have experienced domestic or sexual violence. Organizations like 1800RESPECT and Lifeline are there to offer assistance and resources to those who need it. Let us all strive to create a society where such acts of violence are not tolerated and where victims are given the support and protection they need.

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