Convicted killer Toby Loughnane jailed for at least 20 years for brutal murder of Maryam Hamka

Toby Loughnane has been sentenced to at least two decades in prison for the brutal murder of his girlfriend, Maryam Hamka, in 2021 after a year-long relationship marred by domestic violence.

Toby Loughnane will spend at least two decades behind bars for the brutal murder of his partner Maryam Hamka. Picture: Instagram

Convicted killer Toby Loughnane will spend at least two decades behind bars for murdering his partner Maryam Hamka after repeatedly threatening to “torture and kill” the young woman during their relationship.

Her heartbroken family watched on as Loughnane, 45, was sentenced in the Supreme Court on Friday to 28 years’ jail for the brutal murder of Ms Hamka, 36, inside his Brighton home on April 11, 2021.

With time served, Loughnane will be eligible for parole by his early 60s.

Loughnane will be eligible for parole in 2041. Picture: Supplied

Outside court, Ms Hamka’s brother Hassan said the family was “happy” with the sentence.

“We want to thank the police and all the prosecutors for doing a good job,” he said.

Loughnane – who faced two trials last year after his first was aborted – tried to plead guilty to negligent manslaughter, but his offer was rejected by prosecutors.

The thug claimed Ms Hamka died from a drug overdose, maintaining he panicked and buried her body in a shallow grave in remote bushland on the Mornington Peninsula.

But in June, a 12-person jury rejected his lies and convicted him of murder.

Maryam Hamka’s mother Susan Iramiyan (left) and brother Hassan Hamka (centre) speak to media after Loughnane’s sentence. Picture: Diego Fedele

Ms Hamka was last seen leaving a supermarket in Brunswick, before she went to Loughnane’s townhouse in Melbourne’s southeast on April 10, 2021.

The pair took the drug GHB that evening before he filmed a degrading video of a drug-affected Ms Hamka while she was naked from the waist down.

He then unleashed, viciously assaulting her.

“In the early hours, three neighbours … heard sounds coming from your apartment, sounds of a woman in distress, screaming and sobbing,” Justice Christopher Beale told Loughnane.

“The noises went on for a number of hours, subsiding around 3am.”

A 12-person jury convicted Loughnane of murder. Picture: Aaron Francis

More than two years later, her remains were found in bushland near Cape Schanck.

It can now be revealed Loughnane only told police where Ms Hamka’s remains were after his mate, Oscar Newman, pleaded guilty to assisting an offender in March 2023 and agreed to testify against him.

Her body was so decomposed a cause of death could not be determined.

Justice Beale told the court Loughnane repeatedly threatened to torture and kill Ms Hamka over the course of their one-year relationship by “shooting her, drowning her, setting her on fire and slicing her face off”.

“You murdered Ms Hamka in the context of long-term domestic violence,” he said, noting the fatal assault was not an “isolated outburst of violence”.

Ms Hamka’s remains were found in August 2023. Picture: 7NEWS

In one instance, the jury were told he struck her with a glass bottle, forced a sock in her mouth, confiscated her phone and prevented her from leaving his home.

Crying and visibly bloodied, Ms Hamka escaped and sought help at a nearby Coles.

Loughnane also threatened to kill his girlfriend via text message.

“I’m so angry wait till I get my hands on u c--t,” he said.

“I’m going to split ur skull slut.

“I’d kill u if I had u here.”

On another occasion, Loughnane kicked and punched Ms Hamka “in a rage” in front of a mutual friend, only stopping when she intervened.

The court heard he had also subjected another former partner to abuse, with Justice Beale describing the domestic violence perpetrator as having a “very troubling criminal history”.

Ms Hamka was last seen at a Brunswick supermarket. Supplied: Victoria Police

At trial, Mr Newman told the jury he visited Loughnane’s townhouse on April 11 and noticed blood on the carpet before he found Ms Hamka naked in the corner of the shower, passed out with a swollen face.

He went on to find Loughnane passed out in another bedroom.

Unable to wake his mate, he returned the next day and questioned Loughnane, who claimed Ms Hamka had overdosed and died.

Mr Newman said he asked Loughnane to call an ambulance but he refused, believing he would get “done for manslaughter”.

Ms Hamka with her mother before her untimely death.

In the days after, Loughnane furiously cleaned his home before driving Ms Hamka’s body to Cape Schanck on April 14 and dragging it into a shallow grave.

He feigned ignorance when interviewed two days later, even suggesting it was “disgraceful” Ms Hamka’s family were not assisting the police more.

“I’m not satisfied … that you are truly remorseful, as opposed to being sorry for yourself and those close to you who have had to bear the shame and disgrace of your actions,” Justice Beale told Loughnane.

“You continue to deny that you even assaulted Ms Hamka.”

Dressed in a black suit with a spotted tie, Loughnane looked straight ahead and then at the floor when he learnt he was sentenced to a non-parole period of 20 years.

He will be eligible for parole in 2041.