The court has heard that RAJINI Narayan loved her husband Satish so deeply that she believed setting fire to his penis would prevent him from cheating.
Instead of confronting her husband as planned, Narayan “snapped,” pouring petrol on his back before igniting him.
The 46-year-old has entered a plea of not guilty to the murder of her husband at their Unley residence in the early morning of December 7, 2008.
Mr. Narayan, an engineer who worked on ships for the Australian navy, sustained burns covering over 75 percent of his body and succumbed to his injuries days later at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
In today’s session, the Supreme Court was informed that the jealous wife had learned of her husband’s infidelity, subsequently setting fire to him and their home.
Lindy Powell, QC, representing Narayan, addressed the jury, explaining that Narayan confronted her husband while he lay in bed, shortly after he shared his email password, which led her to discover messages outlining the affair.
“She declared: You claim to love her. I’m going to burn your penis. I’m going to expose your actions to your family,” Ms. Powell recounted.
Ms. Powell emphasized that these words came “from Narayan’s heart” due to a “sincere, albeit severely misguided” belief that she could retain her husband.
“He turned away from her, saying: ‘No you won’t, you fat, dumb bitch.'”
“In that instant, overwhelmed with emotion, Narayan hurled the petrol onto her husband.
“In that moment, she lost control… The intensity of her feelings clouded her ability to think and respond sensibly.”
Ms. Powell reassured the jury that Narayan immediately felt regret and attempted to rescue her husband of 24 years, as well as the couple’s three children, who were present in the house.
She revealed in court that Narayan’s husband had allegedly inflicted years of physical and emotional abuse upon her.
Tim Preston, prosecuting, stated that Narayan confessed her guilt to nearby residents.
“The accused informed (one neighbor) that she had ignited the fire because she discovered her husband’s affair,” he recounted.
“She confided to (the neighbor) her intention to burn her husband’s penis.”
According to Mr. Preston, she also told another neighbor: “I did it, it wasn’t accidental.”
He indicated that police had examined her handbag, uncovering printed emails where her husband expressed his affection for the other woman, along with a credit card in the woman’s name, which provided a motive.
He added that Narayan had told a tarot card reader, whom she consulted merely days before the incident with her husband, that her husband wouldn’t allow her to cut back her working hours as she was financing the other woman.
The trial is ongoing.
