Sorrow for a lost child - the call that broke father Hosayn El-Dennaoui's heart

IT was a call that brought years of agony flooding back - the moment the father of toddler Rahma El-Dennaoui reported her missing.

Hosayn El-Dennaoui

IT was a call that brought six years of agony flooding back - the moment the father of missing toddler Rahma El-Dennaoui reported his daughter missing.

Hosayn El-Dennaoui wept as the triple-0 call was played in Glebe Coroners Court yesterday.

He had put the toddler to bed at the family's Lurnea home about 2am on November 10, 2005. Her siblings woke to find her gone.

In the call, he told the emergency operator: "We woke up just now. We can't find my daughter, she's around two years old. She's wearing like pyjamas, pink, with puppies on."

When asked if there had been a break-in at the house, Mr El-Dennaoui told the operator the flyscreen on Rahma's bedroom window had been cut.

A large gash was found directly above where the toddler had been sleeping.

Counsel assisting the coroner Robert Bromwich SC said Mr El-Dennaoui's emotional reaction to hearing the recording in court was "such a contrast" to his calm attitude during the emergency call.

"I still thought that we would find her again. When I came back from the police station, I was thinking she would be found," Mr El-Dennaoui said.

He told the court he had heard rumours since Rahma disappeared that a male relative had kidnapped Rahma and taken her to Lebanon.

"I don't suspect (it) but there is talk going around. I would like to know the truth," he said.

Police have so far been unable to find a firm motive or suspect for the suspected abduction.

The court was also told of a bizarre find as police searched the family property later that day - a bag of gun parts and bullets in the garage.

Mr El-Dennaoui said he bought the bag for $300 from a stranger named "Sam" after he was told it contained gold chains.

Deputy State Coroner Sharon Freund asked: "You just handed over $300 to a man you have just met on the street who says he has got some gold in a bag?"

"Yes," Mr El-Dennaoui replied.

He denied any involvement in illegal activities when asked if he had sold drugs or had gambling debts. The court previously heard a source had told police Mr El-Dennaoui was a drug dealer.