Alexander Villaluna, born in the Philippines in 1977, immigrated to New Zealand in 2003 to work as a nurse. After completing his specialized training, he found stability, supporting his family back home while planning his own future.

In New Zealand, he met Jovi Pilapil, a fellow Filipina and nurse who had moved there after a previous relationship had ended, leaving her with three children.

Villaluna was captivated by Jovi, undeterred by her past or her children. He saw her as a good mother and a strong person.

Their relationship quickly deepened, and he became a loving, father figure to her three children, who affectionately called him “Papa Alex.”

The couple married in 2011 and soon had a child of their own. They moved to a larger home in Auckland, and Villaluna worked diligently to provide a comfortable life for their new, blended family.

In 2013, seeking better opportunities and a faster path to citizenship, the couple decided to move to Australia. They acquired visas and relocated with their four children. However, three years later, the marriage fractured.

The supportive, loving facade Villaluna presented eventually cracked, revealing a pattern of emotional and physical abuse. Jovi testified that Villaluna often demeaned her as a “single mother with baggage” and demanded gratitude for all his sacrifices.

Their relationship was marked by constant verbal abuse and physical altercations. Jovi finally found the courage to seek help, obtaining an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO), or restraining order, against Villaluna in 2015. Villaluna was forced to move out, and Jovi felt immense relief at escaping the abuse.

However, Villaluna’s obsession did not end with the separation. He began harassing Jovi via email, expressing anger over her “destroying” his good reputation. He threatened her, vowing that if he ever saw her with another man, he would assault him.

As 2016 began, Jovi was determined to move forward. After months of rebuilding her life, she cautiously signed up for online dating.

She met Keith Collins, a 53-year-old Australian businessman who had recently returned from a trip to China. They bonded over their shared experiences as divorced parents and quickly agreed to meet for a first date.

On March 31, 2016, Jovi met Keith at the Kangnam BBQ Restaurant in Westfield Hornsby Shopping Center. What they didn’t know was that Villaluna was still obsessively monitoring Jovi’s life.

Unable to reach her via text, he began calling her relatives and co-workers, growing increasingly frantic until he was finally given Keith’s name.

Villaluna, who was working nearby, rushed to the mall parking lot. He entered the restaurant, wearing camouflage cargo shorts and combat boots. Spotting Jovi and Keith, he marched to their table and, without hesitation, plunged a knife into Keith Collins.

He then moved to assault Jovi, who managed to avoid serious injury. Villaluna fled the restaurant but returned shortly, where authorities found and arrested him.

Keith Collins was rushed to the hospital but was declared to have passed away due to the severity of his wounds. Jovi sustained injuries but survived the horrific confrontation.

Villaluna’s defense argued the incident was a “crime of passion” committed in a fit of rage.

However, the prosecution presented Villaluna’s prior email threats and his deliberate actions—driving to the mall while armed—as clear evidence of premeditation and stalking.

In June 2017, the judge found Alexander Villaluna guilty. Condemning his cowardly actions and lack of remorse, the judge sentenced him to 40 years in prison without the possibility of parole for 30 years.

The court stated that Villaluna’s motive was not momentary rage but a deliberate action to eliminate the rival who replaced him.

In 2022, Villaluna’s nursing license was revoked by the New Zealand disciplinary tribunal. The case remains a chilling example of domestic abuse escalating into a fatal public act, driven by possessive jealousy and the inability to accept a partner’s autonomy.