Convicted killer Adrian Basham barred from using former home to bankroll appeal

Convicted killer Adrian Basham has lost his battle to keep the Victorian home where he murdered his estranged wife, with a judge ruling the property be forfeited.

Basham is currently serving a life sentence for murdering his estranged wife and mother of his children Samantha Fraser on July 23, 2018.

He had hoped to rent out the Cowes house to bankroll his appeal against his conviction.

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But Victoria's Director of Public Prosecutions applied for the property to be seized after Basham was jailed in 2022, arguing the house was tainted because it was where the murder took place.

Basham faced the Supreme Court today as Justice Lesley Taylor approved the confiscation of his assets.

"I am of the view that the real property should be forfeited," Taylor said in her ruling today.

"I am satisfied that it was used in connection with the murder Basham committed, indeed it was instrumental to it.

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"It was a premeditated murder that occurred against a background of family violence and seven days before Ms Fraser was to give evidence in the committal hearing of rape allegations she made against Basham."

The proceeds of the property, and a motorbike Basham used to flee the murder scene, are likely to go to Basham's two children.