Jude Luckshan Wijesinghe has been sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment for the stabbing murder of his co-worker Tshewang Choden in 2023. Photo: Facebook.
CONTENT WARNING: This article details an act of murder and attempted suicide.
Tshewang Choden’s murderer has been sentenced to 30 years behind bars for an attack the ACT Chief Justice labelled as “one of sustained brutality”.
Jude Luckshan Wijesinghe originally pleaded not guilty to stabbing his co-worker Tshewang Choden, a 29-year-old from Bhutan, to death in a kitchen area at the National Zoo & Aquarium on 18 December 2023.
During his sentencing in the ACT Supreme Court on Friday (12 December), Chief Justice Lucy McCallum described Ms Choden’s final moments as ones of “abject terror”.
“He trapped Ms Choden in a locked room where she could not hope to protect herself,” she said.
“[Ms Choden] must have known she was about to die … she put up a fight but was effectively defenceless.”
Wijesinghe was Ms Choden’s supervisor and both worked as chefs at the zoo. They had originally been working the same dinner shifts, but in the lead up to her death, Ms Choden had been moved to the morning roster.
Wijesinghe had developed an infatuation with Ms Choden, but Justice McCallum said there was no evidence the feeling was mutual.
“[In his] spiraling mental state, [Wijesinghe] developed a plan to kill her and then kill himself,” she said.
Wijesinghe drafted suicide notes to his family, friends and co-workers before he headed to work on 18 December, 2023.
Before arriving, he searched online how to delete messages from a phone, before doing just that.
He arrived at work about 12:20 pm and texted friends to say goodbye at 12:40 pm.
A nearby construction worker heard a “woman screaming frantically” at 12:45 pm and he and two others ran to investigate before calling Triple Zero.
They could not access a locked storeroom where the worker had heard the screams coming from.
On the recorded call, the worker said “we just saw someone get murdered” and “I’m pretty sure I saw [the offender] cutting his throat”.
Wijesinghe was found with cuts to his throat and wrists and had also vomited rat poison he had consumed in the storeroom.
Ms Choden was found deceased, with 14 stabbing and slashing wounds to her head, neck, chest and upper extremities, caused by a Japanese boning knife.
“[Ms Choden] undoubtedly spent the last moments of her life in pain and abject terror,” Justice McCallum said.
Justice McCallum outlined Wijesinghe had sent messages to friends suggesting Ms Choden had “led him on” and “f***ed with his head”, but she found there was “no evidence” this was the case.
“[Wijesinghe] was motivated to kill a woman because he could not have her for himself,” she said.
“Such violence against women is a scourge.”
Justice McCallum accepted there was “ample evidence” Wijesinghe was mentally unwell at the time of the murder, but said this did not reduce the objective seriousness of the crime.
She said Wijesinghe had “every opportunity to seek support” and was capable of “rational deliberation” in the lead up to the offence.
Justice McCallum noted he continued to have an “ongoing fixation” with Ms Choden and had an “ongoing lack of insight” into his crime.
She sentenced the now 31-year-old to 30 years behind bars, with a non-parole period of 20 years.
Given his time already spent in prison, Wijesinghe will be eligible for parole in 2043 and his full sentence will expire on 17 December, 2053.
Wijesinghe was originally committed to stand trial for Ms Choden’s murder, but changed his plea to guilty four weeks before the trial was due to begin.
A Jamala Wildlife Lodge and National Zoo and Aquarium spokesperson said Ms Choden’s death had had a “huge impact” on many people.
“The management and staff at Jamala have expressed their thoughts and concerns are for Ms Choden’s family, friends and her work colleagues,” they said.
If this story has raised any concerns for you, you can contact Lifeline’s 24-hour crisis support line on 13 11 14. Help and support are also available through the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467, Kids Helpline 1800 551 800 or kidshelpline.com.au, and MensLine Australia 1300 789 978 or mensline.org.au
