The cold-blooded murder of a Melbourne woman and her husband by her dad, upset his permission wasn’t sought for their marriage, justified a life sentence, a court has determined.

Osman Shaptafaj appealed the maximum penalty he received for killing his 25-year-old daughter Lindita Musai and her husband Veton Musai, 29, on December 31, 2019.

He was ordered to serve at least 35 years.

Shaptafaj, who pleaded guilty to two murder charges, challenged the sentence in Victoria’s Court of Appeal.

That appeal was denied on Thursday.

Lindita and Veton Musai were returning home from a getaway to celebrate their first wedding anniversary when they were confronted by Shaptafaj.

He had been estranged from his daughter for eight years. He had not been asked by the couple for permission to marry and was not invited to the wedding – both things he later said were sore points.

Shaptafaj lay in wait for nearly two hours outside their Yarraville home before shooting them in cold blood.

“These were cold-blooded killings, premeditated (and) carried out for what it seems no better reason than (his) dignity was in some way offended,” Justice Phillip Priest said during an appeal hearing earlier this month.

“It’s difficult to imagine a more callous crime committed against one’s own child.”

His barrister, Rishi Nathwani, said Shaptafaj’s sentence was manifestly excessive and that he was entitled to a sentencing discount because of his age, lack of criminal history, a finding that prison would be more difficult for him, and his guilty plea.

Justice Priest said another way of looking at it was that some killings are so bad that nothing other than life is appropriate.

Outside court Drilon Musai had said he hoped common sense would prevail in the judges’ decision.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

Lifeline 13 11 14

By Karen Sweeney in Melbourne

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