Gold Coast Hotel Murder: Man Jailed for 20 Years in Domestic Violence Killing
- A man has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of his former partner at a Gold Coast hotel in November 2021, an attack that...
- The sentencing took place Monday in Queensland court, with Justice Lincoln Crowley handing down a mandatory life sentence.
- The couple had separated but were on holiday together on the Gold Coast before Benedito was due to travel to New Zealand with their son.
Gold Coast Hotel Murder: Man Jailed for Life in Domestic Violence Killing
A man has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of his former partner at a Gold Coast hotel in November 2021, an attack that occurred in front of their 11-month-old child. Reo Te Whetu Marama Marsh, 39, pleaded guilty earlier this month to the murder of 25-year-old Mary Benedito.
The sentencing took place Monday in Queensland court, with Justice Lincoln Crowley handing down a mandatory life sentence. Marsh had been scheduled to stand trial, but entered a guilty plea, leading the court to proceed directly to sentencing.
The couple had separated but were on holiday together on the Gold Coast before Benedito was due to travel to New Zealand with their son. The court heard that Marsh’s violent outburst stemmed from jealousy and controlling behavior, triggered by an argument about Benedito seeing other men.
The timeline of the attack unfolded on November 27, 2021, at a Southport hotel. CCTV footage showed Benedito leaving the apartment wearing sunglasses and carrying a backpack at approximately 3:00 PM. Marsh pursued her, forcibly bringing her back inside. A neighbor reported hearing “loud verbal abuse” and witnessing Marsh towering over Benedito on the balcony.
The violence escalated quickly. At 4:13 PM, Marsh sent a text message to a former partner stating, “I’ve given Mary a crack.” He then severely beat Benedito, inflicting “repeated blows to the face” and causing “significant bruising to the arms, forearms” and “defensive type injuries” to her hands and fingers, according to evidence presented to the court.
Despite the severity of her injuries, Marsh did not seek medical help. Instead, he requested additional towels from the front desk and failed to alert staff to Benedito’s condition. By approximately 5:00 PM, he believed she was no longer alive before finally calling for assistance.
Hotel staff discovered Benedito on the bedroom floor, in her underwear, with vomit on her body. She was placed on life support but succumbed to her injuries two days later. The cause of death was determined to be “manual strangulation.”
Following the attack, Marsh fled the hotel with their 11-month-old son, triggering an Amber Alert. He eventually abandoned the child at the Oxley Motor Inn, where the baby was safely recovered by police at Crestmead Police Station. Marsh was found hiding in a storage shed in Oxley just after midnight, pursued by police and a dog squad.
The court heard details of a pattern of abuse that predated the murder. Marsh had previously assaulted Benedito while she was pregnant, causing bruising. Even after their son was born, the abuse continued, characterized by jealousy, controlling behavior, threats of self-harm, and stalking.
Family members delivered emotional victim impact statements. Josiah Benedito-Taotafa, Benedito’s cousin, described her as a warm and caring presence, particularly devoted to her son. He recounted the agonizing days spent waiting for news while Benedito was on life support, a time filled with “hope and dread.” He spoke of the lasting trauma and the need for mental health support for multiple family members.
Benedito’s sister recalled the devastating phone call informing her of the attack, expressing her disbelief and grief over the loss of her younger sister. Aunt Maria Benedito directly addressed Marsh, stating, “Reo you have taken a young mother’s life… You took Mama away from (her son). I don’t forgive you, I will never forgive you… You have destroyed so many lives.”
In a letter to the court, Marsh acknowledged the “unfairness” of his actions and expressed remorse. However, Justice Crowley dismissed arguments suggesting a troubled childhood as justification for his actions. He condemned Marsh’s behavior as “rage-fuelled domestic violence caused by your jealousy” and emphasized that Benedito “had the right to see someone else.”
Justice Crowley described Marsh as having “abused” and “captured” Benedito, and noted he “fled the scene like a coward.”
Marsh was sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 20 years. He has already served four years in custody. Outside court, Josiah Benedito-Taotafa called on men to confront their own behavior and address the root causes of domestic violence, stating it was “alive, and it’s infectious.”