<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A judge has slammed the vicious murder of a "blameless peacemaker" as he threw the man's killer behind bars for two decades.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Much-loved family man Mayiik Ring, 32, was fatally stabbed at a reserve in Melbourne's west as he tried to resolve an argument between his girlfriend and the killer.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He did not know his girlfriend, Nyaiek Anyang, was pregnant when he died in hospital from his wounds.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/missing-boy-gus-lamont-update-search-enters-expected-final-day/fb2b004e-07a7-4959-b142-6376f3bac316" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Search for missing boy enters what is expected to be final day</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Malwal Aweng, 28, was found guilty of Ring's murder after his second jury trial in April.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Aweng and his girlfriend were sitting on benches with Ring and Anyang near the St Albans community centre after 10pm on December 30, 2022.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An argument broke out between Aweng and Anyang. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/melbourne-court-judge-sentences-malwal-aweng-for-fatally-stabbing-mayiik-ring/e4301d3b-b30d-4603-b42f-25bcf293d6a7" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ring tried to intervene and resolve the situation, but the fight became physical.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Aweng grabbed a knife from his girlfriend's bag and slashed Anyang across the neck, before thrusting the blade once into Ring's abdomen.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ring stumbled to the community centre for help but collapsed at the entrance and was taken to hospital. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He died from his injuries about midnight on December 31.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Aweng, who was on bail at the time, fled after stabbing Ring and was later arrested and charged with murder.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He had admitted manslaughter, but denied he intentionally tried to kill Ring.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Two juries were empanelled this year, with the first unable to reach a verdict.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/camping-found-after-nine-day-search/9c64827f-2e7a-49b6-9e96-3eee8735d93d" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Missing camper tells of miracle rescue after nine-day ordeal</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Aweng was found guilty of murder after his second jury trial on April 9, and he also pleaded guilty to intentionally causing injury to Anyang.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He stood and appeared to become emotional as Justice Andrew Tinney jailed him for a maximum of 25 years today for the "vicious" and "entirely uncalled for" murder.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"These were two blameless victims who did nothing to deserve your attacks on them," the judge said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Mr Ring in particular was a peacemaker ... It is disturbing that for so little reason you sought to escalate a minor disagreement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You took away the life of a much-loved and valued member of the community, you removed him from the life of his partner and his unborn child.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It is a tragedy for which you are fully responsible."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He noted Aweng's "significant and concerning criminal history", which included punching a man to the ground in 2017 outside Melbourne's State Library and stomping on his head as he lay unconscious.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/measles-alert-gold-coast-schools-and-buses-queensland/a7219e9d-e06a-4d9a-8c20-998d097d50c1" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Measles alert issued after confirmed case at primary school</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Justice Tinney said the protection of the community had loomed large in his determination of an appropriate sentence.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He also described the stabbing of Anyang as "very dangerous conduct" and noted her injuries "will always serve to her as a reminder of what happened that night".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Aweng, who was supported in court by six family members and friends, will be eligible for parole in 19 years and has already served two years and seven months of his sentence.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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