Allen Keys, 67, is seeking to negotiate a plea deal to avoid a life prison sentence for the alleged murder of his ex-wife, Eva Lasrini, 53. Lasrini, who was born in Bali, was reported missing on April 2 after failing to board a flight to visit her daughters. Her body was discovered two days later near Little River, Victoria. Keys was apprehended at Melbourne Airport while attempting to depart the country.
During a court appearance via video link from jail on Monday, the court was informed that Keys' legal team had submitted an 'offer' to the Director of the Office of Public Prosecutions on July 31. This proposal is currently under review and could result in a significantly reduced jail term if accepted. It is speculated that Keys might offer to plead guilty to a lesser charge, such as manslaughter, or enter a guilty plea after receiving a sentence indication.
If the offer is rejected by the prosecution, Keys is expected to proceed with a full murder trial in the Supreme Court of Victoria next year. Members of Lasrini's family were reportedly present during the hearing where the plea deal discussions took place.
Prior to her death, Lasrini had been encouraged by friends to seek family violence services following a contentious separation from Keys. Sources indicate that Keys had begun a new relationship with an Indonesian woman around the time of his ex-wife's alleged murder. Online posts attributed to Keys in the lead-up to the incident contained disparaging remarks about Western women and praise for relationships with Asian women. In one post, he wrote, "It's funny Western girls see an old perv, Asian girls see opportunity." Another stated, "Western females should realise that when they come to Bali their value is reduced substantially and nobody will put up with their s***." He also wrote, "I would rather be chasing Asian girls than stuck at home with a useless, sexless white wife but everyone to their own."
On April 1, the day Lasrini was scheduled to fly, Keys reportedly posted images and videos on social media with another Balinese woman, captioned "New girl new life." He also shared videos containing derogatory jokes about women and content associated with the 'manosphere,' including figures like Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan.
Friends of Lasrini have memorialized her on social media, noting she moved to Australia for love. "Eva met her husband in Bali and fell in love," wrote friend Gail Porter on a crowdfunding page. "That love is what brought her to Melbourne, not for opportunity or financial gain, but to build a life with someone she trusted and cared for deeply." Porter described Lasrini as a devoted mother to her two daughters, Evindra and Vanya, who remain in Indonesia.
Lasrini had been studying English and expressed enthusiasm about self-improvement opportunities in Australia. The case has drawn attention to domestic violence against women. State MP for Dandenong Gabrielle Williams stated at the time of Lasrini's death, "Eva deserved a full and happy life. She deserved to be safe. Perhaps most shocking of all is that Eva is just one of far too many women taken too early by family violence and violence against women. It has to stop."
Keys is scheduled to return to court next month.