By Clare Sibthorpe
A woman allegedly murdered her husband to escape an abusive marriage, gaining control of certain finances before killing and dismembering him with a drop saw, then placing his remains in up to 30 plastic bags which were dumped across south-west Sydney, a court has heard.
Nirmeen Noufl, 53, was supported by a dozen family members and friends as she was refused Supreme Court bail on Thursday morning over the alleged murder of 62-year-old Mamdouh “Emad” Noufl. Noufl’s legal team indicated she may fight the charges.
Mamdouh NOUFL - An appeal over Mamdouh “Emad” Noufl’s disappearance was issued last year.
Police allege Nirmeen Noufl, who was arrested last month, acted alone in killing her husband on May 3 last year. They say she slashed him with knives and a power saw in their family home in Greenacre in Sydney’s west and disposed of his body parts in residential and commercial bins across several suburbs.
In court on Thursday, it emerged that a person known as “Witness A” allegedly saw some of her “callous” actions on the night of the alleged murder, while another witness allegedly reported hearing statements from Noufl that could be considered admissions to killing her husband.
Documents tendered to court allege Noufl was motivated by previous abuse as well as frustrations over her husband’s relationship with a woman in Egypt, whom he had become engaged to while wanting to stay married to his wife.
Noufl checked herself in to a mental health hospital last month and was arrested there based on what police considered to be strong circumstantial evidence. Her husband’s remains have not been found.
She has been in custody since.
Police investigate the alleged murder at the house in Juno Parade, Greenacre.Credit: NSW Police
Arguing for his client’s bail in the Supreme Court on Thursday morning, her lawyer, Greg James, KC, said Noufl suffered from mental illnesses including depression, PTSD and a psychotic illness.
He said that after checking herself into Banks House mental health hospital in Bankstown in October, she had reported hearing “voices of angels” and kept a blanket over her head.
James argued her physical and mental health resulted in jail conditions adverse to her ability to take part in a proper trial.
Crown prosecutor William Sit alleged Noufl killed her husband to escape an unhappy and abusive marriage, with police reports allegedly showing officers had attended the family home multiple times for domestic violence incidents, one which included her late husband allegedly drawing a knife on her.
He submitted that, on the day of Mamdouh Noufl’s alleged death, the couple had travelled to the Egyptian consulate to formally grant her a power of attorney regarding properties in Egypt.
He said Mamdouh Noufl then allegedly went to visit a friend and wasn’t seen again.
“The Crown submits that in that time-frame between 9pm and when witness A attended the home, that’s when the killing happened. We say it was intentional as the opportunity arose circumstantially.”
A new floor was put down at the Juno Parade home, police said.Credit: NSW Police
On that night, according to the police fact sheet, the couple allegedly had an argument regarding Noufl’s fiancee in Egypt.
Sit submitted that, after killing her husband, Noufl travelled to Egypt to act on the power of attorney, selling the properties and returning to Australia with $US200,000.
Noufl allegedly messaged her husband’s fiancee in Egypt following his death, including asking her for money that was owed to her husband.
But James, on behalf of Noufl, argued that she was given power to deal with the family’s real estate in Egypt during a planned trip, and that she did as was previously agreed by the family.
He said Noufl “was observed after the event to have injuries to her face consistent of violence being made to her”.
“Issues of mental health in all its manifestations, issues of provocation, self-defence ... are all on the cards.”
However, Sit argued that Noufl’s behaviour was consistent with someone who had intentionally killed her husband.
He pointed to what he considered to be evidence that she used her husband’s phone and social media accounts after the alleged murder in Australia until she travelled to Egypt. Sit said she used language that was “not consistent” with the alleged deceased’s and spoke of plans of setting up life overseas.
“The post-offence conduct, to say that it was horrendous and disturbing, would be an understatement,” Sit said.
In refusing Noufl bail, Judge Deborah Sweeney said the Crown’s case that Noufl “dismembered her husband’s body, placed it in 20 to 30 bags and disposed of them in separate residential and industrial bins”, appeared strong.
“The officer-in-charge says ‘Witness A’ has provided a statement asserting having witnessed those actions by the accused,” she said.
“Furthermore, another witness is said to have had conversation with the accused in September 2024 where the accused is said to have made statements that could be construed as admitting to having killed her husband.”
She accepted her diagnoses of depression, complex PTSD as a result of her abusive parents and late husband, and a possible psychotic illness, but said she could be treated in custody.
The mystery surrounding the couple was sparked by a missing persons case in July last year.
Concerned family friends raised the alarm after being unable to contact Mamdouh Noufl.
Noufl is due to next face court on December 11.
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