Man on trial 30 years after wife's alleged murder

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 08:01 · Archive

Aaron Govendir, now 83, is standing trial for allegedly bludgeoning his wife Denise to death in their Sydney home in 1998.

Aaron Govendir, now 83, is standing trial in the NSW Supreme Court after pleading not guilty to murdering his wife Denise at their Dover Heights home in Sydney on 10 March 1998, nearly three decades ago. The prosecution alleges he bludgeoned her to death in their bed and staged a violent home invasion to cover it up, waiting until her body went cold before calling emergency services.

The couple had been married for 30 years and their relationship was marked by arguments and a previous six-month separation. Before her death, Denise Govendir, 53, had consulted a solicitor about the marriage breaking down irretrievably and wished to divide their assets amicably. Whilst Aaron Govendir had a stake in a company believed worth millions of dollars, she focused on securing half their family home. Crown prosecutor Christopher Taylor told the court that days before the death, Govendir instructed his solicitor to cease all separation communications, and that a real estate agent would testify to receiving a call from Govendir on 3 March telling him not to contact them about a potential house sale.

Govendir admitted to having "a few affairs" with other women, the court was told. The Crown contends he had no desire for the divorce to proceed.

How it is being reported

• Man allegedly faked burglary to conceal wife's murderA husband accused of bludgeoning his wife in their bed and blaming her death on a violent home invasion is standing trial nearly 30 years later.The West Australian · 26 Oct, 07:32
• Man allegedly faked burglary to conceal wife's murderA husband accused of bludgeoning his wife in their bed and blaming her death on a violent home invasion is standing trial nearly 30 years later.Perth Now · 26 Oct, 07:32

In this story: Aaron Govendir · Denise Govendir · NSW Supreme Court · Dover Heights · Sydney

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