On the day of her death, the pair had an argument over Solmaz's use of the heater, when he claimed his former wife struck him with a coffee table leg.
In response, Solmaz grabbed the piece of wood and beat the mother of his two sons repeatedly until she lost consciousness.
"While she remained unconscious on the floor, you grabbed the electrical cable, wrapped it more than once tightly around her neck, and strangled her," Supreme Court Justice Andrew Tinney said while sentencing him today.
"You killed her by a protracted display of extravagant violence.
"In heartless fashion, you left her dead on the floor, packed a suitcase and went about your business."
Solmaz was extradited back to Victoria, where he told police his ex-wife had been abusive to him and planned to poison his food or kill him in his sleep.
But Justice Tinney said there was no proof behind the claims, which he deemed "implausible" and likely false.
He added Solmaz acted in an "outburst of homicidal rage" rather than a psychologically distorted state, meaning his moral culpability was "extremely high".
Solmaz, who has already served 809 days in pre-sentence detention, will be eligible for parole once he has spent 20 years behind bars.
If you're in danger now:
• Phone the police on 111 or ask neighbours of friends to ring for you.
• Run outside and head for where there are other people.
• Scream for help so that your neighbours can hear you.
• Take the children with you.
• Don't stop to get anything else.
• If you are being abused, remember it's not your fault. Violence is never okay
Where to go for help or more information:
• Women's Refuge: Free national crisis line operates 24/7 - 0800 refuge or 0800 733 843 www.womensrefuge.org.nz
• Shine, free national helpline 9am- 11pm every day - 0508 744 633 www.2shine.org.nz
• It's Not Ok: Information line 0800 456 450 www.areyouok.org.nz
• Shakti: Providing specialist cultural services for African, Asian and middle eastern women and their children. Crisis line 24/7 0800 742 584
• Ministry of Justice: www.justice.govt.nz/family-justice/domestic-violence
• National Network of Stopping Violence: www.nnsvs.org.nz
• White Ribbon: Aiming to eliminate men's violence towards women, focusing this year on sexual violence and the issue of consent. www.whiteribbon.org.nz
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