Australian father jailed for murdering his three sons

An Australian father has been jailed for life for murdering his three sons in what prosecutors called "an unspeakable act of vengeance."

Robert Farquharson, 41, was convicted of driving his car carrying his sons into a reservoir and leaving them to drown as he swam free.

The prosecution said he acted out of resentment and anger against his ex-wife Cindy Gambino.

Farquharson had been driving his three sons - Jai, 10, Tyler, 7, and two-year-old Bailey - to visit his ex-wife in Geelong, near Melbourne, on Father's Day in 2005.

He had pleaded not guilty to murder, saying he had blacked out during a coughing fit at the wheel of his car.

He was first convicted and given a life sentence without parole in 2007, but a re-trial was ordered on appeal, leading to his conviction in July this year.

The Supreme Court judge in the Australian state of Victoria, Lex Lasry, told Farquharson that he must serve at least 33 years of his life sentence, but could be eligible for parole after that.