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Home / New Zealand

Bali murder: Wife wanted to 'teach husband a lesson'

Daily Mail
15 Apr, 2015 07:20 PM5 mins to read

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Robert Ellis pictured with his wife, Noor Ellis, who was arrested soon after his murder. Photo / Facebook

Robert Ellis pictured with his wife, Noor Ellis, who was arrested soon after his murder. Photo / Facebook

The Balinese woman who hired hitmen to murder her Australian husband has told a court that she wanted to teach him a lesson because he refused to give her money or grant her a divorce.

Noor Ellis admitted a role in the killing of her 60-year-old husband, businessman Robert Ellis, at their home in Bali last October. His body, with wrists and feet bound, was found wrapped in plastic, dumped in a ditch in a rice field near Sedang Village.

Mrs Ellis faced court on Wednesday charged with the premeditated killing of her husband of 20 years, and explained that he was now "in heaven".

Mrs Ellis told Judge Beslin Sihombing that her husband died "Because of the order from me".

The Balinese national, who has two sons with her late husband, was arrested along with seven other people, including the couple's two former maids and the boyfriend of one of the maids.

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"For a long time he hadn't given me sufficient (money), (he) even took the money for my kids' schooling," Mrs Ellis told the court.

"Because his attitude didn't change, I couldn't stand it anymore. Once I asked for divorce but he didn't want to," she said.

"He said we should just go on, in our own way."

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23-year-old Urbanus Yohanes Ghoghi, who slit Mr Ellis's throat, told the court on Wednesday in graphic detail of the roles he and four other men played in the killing.

Noor Ellis gave one of the men, Martin, a towel and a pillow, and asked his "help to teach a lesson".

The men first tried to suffocate him, but when their victim fought back, Martin handed him the kitchen knife he used to slash his throat.

Afterwards, Mrs Ellis handed Martin the plastic to wrap her husband's body in, Urbanus told the court.

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"That night, Mrs Noor gave Rp 50 million ($5000) to Martin. It was then split, Rp 10 million each," he said.

"Martin also said to us that tomorrow, there will be more."

In early January police reportedly handed a brief of evidence to prosecutors which claimed the victim's wife paid hit-men 150 million rupiah, or $14,200 AUD, according to The Daily Telegraph.

The court heard that Mrs Ellis told her husband's killers "to be neat" when they murdered him, and called a meeting prior to his murder to ensure the men knew the instructions.

"Mrs Noor said that when killing Mr Bob, don't use a sharp weapon," Urbanus said.

"Close his nose and mouth with a pillow only. To be neat, basically."

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Mrs Ellis faces the death penalty if she is found guilty of the charge of premeditated murder, which her two sons, Peter and John, said they are reconciled to.

Both sons have refused to attend their mother's court hearing, and said that they want to see justice for their father.

"If that [the death penalty] happens, it happens," Peter told Channel Seven's Sunday Night program.

"But we want justice for our dad no matter what."

Mr Ellis was set upon in his own Bali kitchen by the killers who slashed his throat "like killing a pig", police said, after Mrs Ellis employed the men along with two housemaids to clean up the murder.

His wife, who was taken into custody after confessing to her role in the crime, helped local officials to recreate the murder.

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"There is no doubt this was an execution-style murder," said a senior police officer in the Bali capital, Denpasar.

Mr Ida Bagus Putu Alit, who headed the district's forensic team, said Mr Ellis' throat had been slashed three times.

"One of the wounds to the throat was fatal, but he also had several bruises around his head, suggesting he had been knocked to the ground before receiving the fatal throat wound," he said.

Peter and John text messaged their mother to ask where their father was to which she chillingly replied, "I'll ask him when I see him."

When Ellis was arrested at the end of last year, she admitted to police and her two Perth-based sons that she paid $14,000 to men to carry out the murder with her motive likely being his $30 million estate.

Noor's lawyers have claimed that Robert was abusive and the hit men were only paid to scare her husband, not murder him.

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Police have also alleged Noor confessed to ordering his murder because he cheated on her 'often' and has claimed that she was possessed by a spirit or a monster and pushed to organise Robert's killing by an outside supernatural force.

Her sons, Peter and John Ellis have told The West Australian of the perils they face, not only of a life without their father, but potentially without their mother as well.

"Mum felt like she wasn't being treated well enough, she wasn't given enough money," Peter said.

"And her only option in her mind was to murder my dad."

Officials confirmed that Mr Ellis had a UK passport and had lived in Australia before moving to the seaside area of Sanur, Bali with his wife.

Ellis also has two other children from a former relationship. At the time of their father's death, the four children and Mr Ellis' brother John released a joint statement.

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"Bob was a loving and devoted father, grandfather, brother, son and husband. His loss leaves a hole in the lives of everyone he touched."

"His work in business created jobs for thousands of Indonesians. He was a good and honourable man.

"His integrity, generosity and spirit is evidenced by the way the business community both expat and Indonesian have rallied to support us and show their respects."

- Daily Mail

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