21-07-2025
Tanya Hinrichsen eligible for parole next year after stabbing death of husband, Steven Hinrichsen
An Adelaide mother who helped her new lover and his friend fatally bash and stab her "vulnerable and heavily-sedated" husband has been sentenced for a second time after pleading guilty to a charge of manslaughter.
Warning: This story contains content that may distress some readers.
Tanya Hinrichsen was initially found guilty of the 2018 murder of her husband of 14 years, Steven Hinrichsen, and jailed for life with a non-parole period of 22 years, but her conviction was set aside when she won a re-trial on appeal in 2023.
Ahead of her Supreme Court retrial she pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter, which was accepted by prosecutors, and she has now been re-sentenced to a reduced prison term of nine-and-a-half years.
Her non-parole period is now seven years, seven months and seven days — making her eligible to apply for release on parole in July 2026.
During her re-sentencing, Justice Anne Bampton said Hinrichsen, 47, had provided the keys to the Housing Trust home she shared with Mr Hinrichsen to allow her new lover Gavin Scott Skinner and his friend, Robert Thrupp, to bash and stab the 63-year-old in December 2018.
"Steven Hinrichsen was physically vulnerable and heavily sedated by pain medication," Justice Bampton said.
"You were his wife and his carer.
"You exposed him to the thuggery of Mr Skinner by participating in the plan to assault him and by providing Mr Skinner and Mr Thrupp with access to your keys to the Morphett Vale home.
"He was stabbed by Gavin Skinner who was originally a friend of Mr Hinrichsen's and with whom, in the months before the stabbing, you had commenced a sexual relationship."
She said there were at least "65 separate applications of force resulting in 71 injuries being sustained by Mr Hinrichsen, some of which were consistent with self-defence" — to his chest, back, hands and foot.
"A framed photograph of him was smashed over his body," she said.
Mr Hinrichsen used a wheelchair and walking frame for mobility due to recent surgery and back pain.
She said Hinrichsen wore an engagement ring from Skinner and referred to him as her future husband.
"You and Mr Skinner acted with increasing hostility towards Mr Hinrichsen."
She said there had been earlier acts of violence and threats which Skinner had perpetrated against Mr Hinrichsen which were revealed in text messages exchanged between Skinner and Hinrichsen.
"The text messages between you and Mr Skinner are demonstrative of the animosity you each held towards Mr Hinrichsen," she said.
"It is evident that you considered him to be hampering your relationship and that you were frustrated by not having a place to live together."
Justice Bampton said Hinrichsen continued to receive letters from Skinner while in custody but had discarded them and not responded.
She said nine victim impact statements read during a pre-sentence hearing had detailed the "lifelong damage" Hinrichsen had caused Mr Hinrichsen's loved ones.
Justice Bampton said Hinrichsen had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD), which was amenable to treatment, and that the victim impact statements had "a profound impact" on her.
"It was submitted that you knew what you did was wrong and that you are sincerely remorseful for the harm that you have caused," she said.
Skinner is serving a life sentence with a 24-year non-parole period, while Thrupp — who was found guilty of manslaughter for his role in the offending — was jailed for nine years with a non-parole period of seven years, two months and 13 days.
He will be eligible to apply for release on parole at the end of February 2026.
