Boyfriend of missing Brunswick woman Maryam Hamka charged with murder

The family of missing Brunswick woman Maryam Hamka has told her boyfriend, Toby Loughnane, to “rot in hell” as he fronted court charged with her murder.

Missing Brunswick woman Maryam Hamka.

The boyfriend of missing Melbourne woman Maryam Hamka has been told to “rot in hell” as he fronted court charged with her murder.

Toby Loughnane, 41, was beamed into the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday where he was formally charged with the murder of Ms Hamka by detectives from the missing persons squad.

Ms Hamka, 36, was last seen leaving a Brunswick supermarket on April 10 and distraught family members raised the alarm five days later after not hearing from her.

Charge sheets released by the court allege Mr Loughnane killed Ms Hamka in Brighton on April 11 — one day after she was last seen alive.

More than four months on, the Brunswick woman’s body has not yet been found.

Maryam Hamka.

Hamka's boyfriend, Toby Loughnane.

During the virtual hearing, a woman could be seen mouthing the words “piece of s---” on camera and holding up newspaper articles about Ms Hamka’s disappearance, including one titled: “Where is she now?”

Following the brief hearing, another woman asked: “Toby where’s my niece?”

“You should rot in hell,” she continued before the court link was disconnected.

Defence lawyer Sam Norton told the court Mr Loughnane — who is already in custody over allegations of a separate assault on Ms Hamka — only found out he was charged with his ex-girlfriend’s murder from the TV news.

“A more cynical person than me would say the police have used the media very skilfully,” Mr

Maryam Hamka has been missing since April.

Norton said as he argued for a suppression order.

“My client found out that he was charged with murder, the most serious crime on the criminal calendar, by seeing it on the TV from his prison cell,” Mr Norton said.

Magistrate Hugh Radford denied the request for a suppression order, noting the allegations against Mr Loughnane were already in the public domain.

Mr Loughnane will return to court on December 3.

The last time Ms Hamka, 36, was seen by her family was in the company of Mr Loughnane. He picked her up from her Brunswick home on April 10 to take her back to Brighton.

Her last-known movements were on CCTV, in which she was seen leaving the Albert St Woolworths in Brunswick about 5.30pm on April 10.

Her family raised the alarm with police five days later after Ms Hamka failed to call to ask about her nephew, who she dearly loved and visited often.

Maryam’s brother Ayman Hamka said the murder charge brought small relief to the family.

“I am glad Toby has been charged,” Mr Hamka said. “Hopefully now they can bring her home and we can get some closure. We want to let Maryam rest in peace.”

Detectives door knock properties along Well St, Brighton, in bid to find information about Maryam Hamka. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Mr Hamka said detectives had delivered the news to his mother on Wednesday.

“It’s a mixed feeling, Mum is a bit emotional and all over the shop,” Mr Hamka said. “She is quite devastated.”

Maryam’s grieving sister Hanna Hamka in April said the family were desperate for answers.

“Dead or alive, we want to know what has happened,” she said. “They say you have to prepare for the worst but we are hoping for the best.”

Police investigating the disappearance are still trying to track the movements of a red 2015 Mazda 3 hatchback with distinctive damage to the front left guard and want to hear from anyone who may have seen it between April 13 and April 15.

“Investigators believe that during this period, the vehicle made a number of trips to and from the Brighton area and was being driven by a sole male occupant,” a spokeswoman said.

Anyone able to help can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimestoppersvic.com.au