Paul Jason Sultana stabs himself in court after guilty verdict in Dayna Isaac murder case

Paul Jason Sultana, 35, was found guilty in the New South Wales Supreme Court of the January 2023 strangling murder of Dayna Isaac, a mother of two, after a trial that centered on a brief and unsettled relationship between the two. Justice Peter Garling delivered the verdict on Friday, prompting Sultana to stab himself in the left arm with a sharp object as the court resumed. He sobbed loudly and was wheeled out of the King Street courthouse on a stretcher by paramedics, with sheriff’s officers and court staff attending to him as an ambulance was called.

The verdict concluded a case that prosecutors described as arising from a jealous fixation after Isaac had rejected a long-term relationship. The trial heard that Isaac, who had been married previously, had told friends she did not see a future with Sultana, a detail that witnesses and investigators described as central to the motive alleged by prosecutors. Sultana, who had previously denied involvement, argued that an unknown third party killed Isaac while he was asleep in her Penrith home. The jury ultimately rejected those claims.

During the hearing, evidence included testimony from Sultana’s mother, Janet Tsiliris, who was called to testify about the events surrounding the murder. Tsiliris told investigators that she was told by her son about the night of the killing, and testified to observations she made after coming into Isaac’s apartment and seeing blood in the entryway near the living area. She said she fled the scene after discovering the violence and reported what she had seen.

Garry English, Isaac’s father, spoke outside court after the verdict, saying he viewed the guilty finding as a measure of justice for his daughter. English described Isaac as a person who deserved safety and respect, and he indicated that the outcome would be meaningful for her family. He told reporters that the verdict was a good outcome for his daughter, who he described as “princess.”

Prosecutors outlined a pattern of coercive conduct and control in the relationship, while the defense emphasized that Isaac had initiated a relationship with Sultana and suggested that Isaac’s own actions and decisions should be considered. Sultana repeatedly claimed he was not involved in Isaac’s death and argued that a third party was responsible, a theory that the jury did not accept.

The jury’s verdict will be followed by a sentencing hearing, with prosecutors pressing for a substantial prison term. Sultana is expected to face sentencing later this year, after which the court will determine an appropriate punishment in light of the murder’s circumstances and the defendant’s actions since the incident. The case has drawn attention for the dramatic courtroom moment and for the questions it raises about motive, control, and the boundaries of intimate relationships.