They were asleep in an upstairs bedroom of their newly rented townhouse when a scorned Jenny Hayes, furious about a sexual encounter ending badly, set fire to the home in the early hours of December 2, 2020.
The Point Cook home quickly caught alight and the new parents and their 19-day-old baby, unable to escape, died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
The downstairs bedroom was free to be used by a friend of Mr Sohal, who had hired Hayes, a sex worker.
Services were provided by Ms Hayes and paid for by the friend, but there was a dispute and the friend left.
Hayes claimed she had been raped by the man and he had taken money from her handbag.
Hayes sent him a series of angry texts, including telling him she would set fire to his house.
She set fire to the bed and took photos as the room caught alight. The blaze quickly spread and even as she drove away, she took another picture.
"I'm so sick of people thinking they can do this shit to me and nothing happens to them," she sent in a text.
"So I took what he had"
Ms Forrest, 19, had met Mr Sohal, 28, on Tinder in 2019. News of their daughter's impending arrival was a surprise, but welcome.
Ivy was born on November 13, 2020 and two days later was taken home to the Point Cook property by her parents.
Ms Forrest was born and raised in Geelong and had been living with her parents before moving into the new property.
Born and raised in India, Mr Sohal came to Australia to study accounting before switching to carpentry. During Melbourne's lockdowns he had been working as a delivery driver, visiting Ms Forrest frequently.
Ivy's arrival marked the beginning of family life together.
Neighbours reported hearing Mr Sohal crying out for help after the fire started. Despite attempts to get into the home, they could not be saved.
Hayes pleaded guilty to three charges of arson causing death.
"It was only a little flame on the bed," she told police after her arrest.
"I provided him with a service ... I f***ing started burning his mattress because he took my money."
Hayes said she didn't know there was anyone else in the house, but prosecutors say Mr Sohal's friend told her she had to be quiet because his friends were sleeping upstairs.
Hayes is facing a pre-sentence hearing in the Victorian Supreme Court on Monday.
Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth revealed Hayes had tested positive for COVID-19 and would appear in court by videolink for the hearing.
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