Evil tomahawk killer to rot in jail: Jealous man who bludgeoned his pregnant girlfriend to death is handed two life sentences for murdering the woman and her unborn baby

  • Brock Wall was sentenced to two life sentences with 20-year non-parole period
  • He bludgeoned pregnant ex-girlfriend to death with tomahawk in February 2015
  • Gold Coast man jumped on Fabiana Palhares' stomach to kill their unborn baby
  • Wall, 38, stalked and harassed Palhares, 34, ignoring domestic violence orders 

By Australian Associated Press and Sam Duncan For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

A Gold Coast man who bludgeoned his pregnant ex-girlfriend to death with a tomahawk has been given two life sentences. 

Days before Brock Wall, 38, killed Fabiana Palhares, 34, and jumped on her stomach to kill their unborn child he told co-workers he would murder her.

Wall bashed the Brazilian woman to death at her Varsity Lakes home as she screamed for help down the line of a triple-zero call in February 2015.

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Wall told co-workers he would kill his pregnant ex-girlfriend (pictured) days before the murders

Wall told co-workers he would kill his pregnant ex-girlfriend (pictured) days before the murders

Days before Brock Wall (pictured) killed Fabiana Palhares, 34, and jumped on her stomach to kill their unborn child he told co-workers he would murder her

Days before Brock Wall (pictured) killed Fabiana Palhares, 34, and jumped on her stomach to kill their unborn child he told co-workers he would murder her

Ms Palhares' family, including her brother who flew in from Brazil, were present at the sentencing hearing (pictured are paramedics at the scene of the crime)

Ms Palhares' family, including her brother who flew in from Brazil, were present at the sentencing hearing (pictured are paramedics at the scene of the crime)

The carpenter was arrested a few streets away covered with blood and charged with murder and breaching a domestic violence order.

When two days later police discovered Ms Palhares was carrying a child he was charged with the unlawful assault of a pregnant woman.

'The facts are chilling, horrific, and the stuff of nightmares,' Justice Ann Lyons told the court on Monday.

'Your attack became a murderous rage which was clearly full of hatred and anger.'

The pair began dating in October 2014 and were excited to find out the 34-year-old had fallen pregnant just weeks later.

But Wall was physically and verbally abusive towards Ms Palhares, at one point forcing her to crawl under a coffee table for protection as he hit and spat on her.

In the months leading up to her murder, Wall repeatedly sent Ms Palhares threatening text messages and twice breached domestic violence orders issued against him.

He hid in the garden outside her bedroom window and watched as she fell asleep, accused her of having a sexual relationship with other people and broke into her home while she slept to go through her phone.

Brock Wall bashed Brazilian woman Fabiana Palhares (pictured) to death at her Varsity Lakes home as she screamed for help down the line of a triple-zero call in February 2015

Brock Wall bashed Brazilian woman Fabiana Palhares (pictured) to death at her Varsity Lakes home as she screamed for help down the line of a triple-zero call in February 2015

Wall (pictured) was on Monday sentenced in the Brisbane Supreme Court to life in prison with a 20-year non-parole period

Wall (pictured) was on Monday sentenced in the Brisbane Supreme Court to life in prison with a 20-year non-parole period

On other occasions he screamed at her, 'I hope you lose the baby, I don't even know if it's mine' and told her to get an abortion.

Five days before he killed Ms Palhares Wall told a co-worker on a construction site: 'I am going to f***ing kill her, I might punch her in the guts first.'

Two days later he told another colleague: 'I'm going to go to jail for life over this woman.'

Wall went to the Surfers Paradise Police Station on February 2 where he told officers she would not be having her baby.

He then dismissed a verbal warning not to approach her and brushed them off when they gave him contact details for counselling and domestic services.

After that he drove to her home where he bashed her until she was unconscious, jumped on her stomach so hard the soles of his shoes were later identifiable as bruises on her skin and fractured her face and skull with a tomahawk.

The brother of Fabiana Palhares, Raphael Palhares (left), is seen leaving the Supreme Court in Brisbane

The brother of Fabiana Palhares, Raphael Palhares (left), is seen leaving the Supreme Court in Brisbane

Ms Palhares was taken to hospital after being found by police on the floor of her bedroom with a faint pulse, but could not be saved. 

He was on Monday sentenced in the Brisbane Supreme Court to life in prison with a 20-year non-parole period. 

With time served he will be eligible for release in 16-and-a-half years. 

Wall pleaded guilty just days before he was due to face trial, saying 'I'm sorry' as he formally entered the plea.

'I don't want to go through with it … it's so hard to live with,' Wall told the court from the dock. 

'I would prefer to throw my hands up in the air and show my remorse and plead guilty.' 

Ms Palhares' family, including her brother Raphael who flew in from Brazil, were present at the sentencing hearing. 

The former house-mate of Fabiana Palhares, Bianca Goeuveia, gives a statement outside the Supreme Court in Brisbane

The former house-mate of Fabiana Palhares, Bianca Goeuveia, gives a statement outside the Supreme Court in Brisbane

 

Brisbane

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