A man who killed his pregnant lover after pressuring her to terminate the pregnancy has been sentenced to life in prison.
Hassan W. Jabbie, 36, was sentenced in Perth on Tuesday for the murder of Janet Dweh, 36, who was eight months pregnant with his child at the time of her death. On October 3, 2021, Jabbie bludgeoned Dweh with a claw hammer in her Dayton home, located in the northeastern suburbs of Perth.
Jabbie was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 24 years. In court, Justice Joseph McGrath described the attack as both prolonged and callous. He noted that Jabbie showed “no remorse whatsoever” for his actions.
The court was told that Jabbie struck Dweh 30 times with the hammer before removing the CCTV hard drive from her home and burying it, along with the murder weapon, at a vacant block near his home.
Justice McGrath addressed Jabbie, stating, “The deceased should’ve been safe in your company,” adding that Dweh’s three young children would now grow up without their mother.
The judge also highlighted the emotional toll the crime had on Dweh’s family and friends, who filled the courtroom for the sentencing.
Jabbie’s Abusive Messages
Jabbie had repeatedly pressured Dweh to terminate the pregnancy, sending her abusive messages in which he called her derogatory names, including “prostitute” and “harlot.” Justice McGrath said Jabbie showed “contempt” for Dweh, particularly in how he treated her during her pregnancy.
At the time of the killing, Jabbie was married with two children, although he was estranged from his wife.
The Crime and Investigation
During the seven-week trial, it was revealed that Jabbie spoke to an undercover police officer, who had posed as a fellow inmate, about the crime. Jabbie confessed to burying the murder weapon and other items related to the killing at the vacant block. Police later found a blood-stained hammer and a pair of gloves with DNA matching Dweh’s.
Jabbie also admitted that he wished he had never met Dweh and that his wife was furious upon learning about the pregnancy. He claimed that the killing was an accident, initially intending to discuss abortion with Dweh, but the conversation escalated into violence.
He described the act of killing Dweh as “hard work” and said it “wasn’t quick.”
Family’s Response
Outside court, Dweh’s brother, Jeremiah Dweh, expressed relief that justice had been served. He described his sister as a kind and supportive woman and said the life sentence “restores faith” that perpetrators of domestic violence would be held accountable.
“People who have the potential to commit crimes like that don’t belong in the community,” he added.
Jabbie had previously denied any involvement in Dweh’s death, with his lawyer suggesting that others, including Jabbie’s wife, could have been responsible. The defense argued that Jabbie’s wife had the “most compelling motive” to stop Dweh from having his child.
Both Jabbie and Dweh were members of the tight-knit Liberian community in Perth.
Sentencing
Jabbie will serve a minimum of 24 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole.
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