Mother’s ‘life sentence’ after daughter brutally murdered by husband – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pexels)
Maria Gotencio stood before the Victorian Supreme Court and described how a single act of violence had shattered her family forever. Fourteen months after her daughter Czarina was killed in their Melbourne home, the grief has not eased. Gotencio now focuses on helping her four young grandchildren navigate a world without their mother.
The Attack That Changed Everything
On March 27 last year, Jessie James Tumaliuan forced his way into the couple’s Werribee property and confronted his wife about money. He shouted abusive names at her before she tried to escape through the back door. Tumaliuan chased her down and stabbed her eight times with a kitchen knife in an attack that lasted just ten seconds.
After the assault, he dragged her body to the back door and called emergency services twice. When police arrived, he cooperated with officers but had initially refused entry to paramedics. The 42-year-old later pleaded guilty to murder following a sentence indication hearing in January.
Words That Captured a Family’s Pain
Gotencio addressed the court through tears and a video link from the United States. She explained that part of her had died alongside her daughter and that the loss felt like a permanent sentence of grief. The damage to the family, she said, could never be undone.
She expressed a deep wish that she could have been present to protect Czarina on that day. Her statement highlighted the everyday reality of raising four grandchildren who continue to mourn their mother.
A Son’s Tribute to His Mother
Tumaliuan’s teenage son also spoke to the court via video link. He described his mother as a super-mum and the most important person in his world. The loss has left a large empty space in the family’s hearts that cannot be repaired.
The young man told the court how much it hurts that she is no longer with them. His words added another layer to the picture of a household forever altered by the crime.
Arguments Presented and Judicial Observations
Defense barrister Chris Hooper acknowledged that the attack would have been terrifying for Czarina and that she was entitled to feel safe in her own home. He described the case as a very serious example of murder but noted that Tumaliuan had not gone to the property intending to kill her. Hooper also pointed out that his client had called triple zero himself and had not attempted to hide evidence or obstruct the investigation.
Justice Amanda Fox observed that Tumaliuan had effectively no ties to Australia, with his family in the Philippines and his children in the United States. She remarked that whatever life he had built here was destroyed by the crime. The judge indicated she would impose a sentence of up to 26 years if Tumaliuan pleaded guilty, and formal sentencing will occur at a later date.
The case leaves behind a family learning to live with an absence that no court outcome can fill. Four children continue to grow up without their mother, while their grandmother works to hold the pieces together from across the world. The proceedings have shown how one moment of violence can reshape lives for generations.
