Adrian James Basham, 49, was brought in person to the Victorian Court of Appeal on Friday as he launched an appeal against his murder conviction and sentence.
But he turned around in the dock multiple times to stare down and point at supporters of Samantha Fraser, who he was convicted of murdering at her Phillip Island home in July 2018.
Ms Fraser, his ex-wife, had alleged Basham repeatedly raped her during their 10-year marriage and she was due to give evidence in court later that July.
Instead, Basham broke into her garage and assaulted her before tying a noose around her neck and hanging her from the garage door to stage her death as a suicide.
Basham was in 2023 sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 30 years for what the trial judge described was an "objectively heinous" crime.
But Basham's barrister Dermot Dann KC on Friday argued the sentence was manifestly excessive as the judge wrongly determined the case was in the worst category of murder.
The sentencing judge also failed to consider Basham's good prospects of rehabilitation, his prior good character and the lengthy delays in the case, Mr Dann said.
The defence barrister argued the judge did not direct the jury properly when it came to the allegations of rape Basham was facing at the time of the murder.
The jurors were wrongly told it was up to them to determine whether Ms Fraser's statements about the rape were truthful, Mr Dann said.
But prosecutor Stephanie Clancy contended the judge made multiple directions to the jury that the allegations were not proven and Basham was entitled to the presumption of innocence.
Basham yelled out during Ms Clancy's submissions, pointing at the police informant and telling him to "check the camera footage".
After another outburst, Court of Appeal president Justice Karin Emerton told the convicted killer his presence was not required in the courtroom.
"He's chosen to be here and if he continues to interrupt, he won't be able to remain," she said.
Basham apologised through his lawyer but continued to fidget and turn around and glare at Ms Fraser's family during the hearing.
The hearing continues.
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