Ex-boyfriend murdered Maryam Hamka inside Brighton home

Toby Loughnane has been found guilty of murdering his ex-girlfriend, with details of their “brief and controlling and violent relationship” laid bare in court.

Maryam Hamka's boyfriend Toby Loughnane has been found guilty of her murder.

The grieving family of Maryam Hamka say her abusive former partner “got what he deserved” after he was found guilty of her murder.

Toby Loughnane, 44, faces life behind bars after he was on Friday convicted by a Supreme Court jury of murdering Ms Hamka, 36, inside his home in Melbourne’s southeast in April 2021.

Outside court, Ms Hamka’s siblings paid tribute to their sister, saying it had been a long road to justice.

“It’s been a long three years, it’s all over now, got a guilty outcome and we’re happy,” brother Hassan Hamka said.

“He got what he deserved.”

Maryam's mother Susan, brother Hassan, and sister Amel outside court after the verdict. Picture: Miles Proust

Ms Hamka’s family described her as a beautiful person who was loved by many.

“This has been a really long, extremely mentally hard process for us and we’re happy that we’ve got justice for my sister, Maryam,” sister Amel Hamka said.

Loughnane claimed Ms Hamka died from a drug overdose, before he panicked and buried her body in remote bushland on the Mornington Peninsula.

It took the 12-person jury two days of deliberations to reject his lies and convict him.

“Guilty,” the jury’s forewoman said.

Standing in the dock wearing a black suit, Loughnane was expressionless as he learnt his fate.

Seated in the court’s front row, Ms Hamka’s sister Amel sobbed after the jury returned its decision.

Maryam's family say Loughnane 'got what he deserved' following today's guilty verdict. Picture: Miles Proust

At the start of his trial, Loughnane pleaded guilty to negligent manslaughter but his offer was rejected by prosecutors who proceeded with a charge of murder.

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

Her remains were found in isolated bushland near Cape Schanck in August last year — nearly 2.5 years after her disappearance.

They were so decomposed a cause of death could not be determined.

Brunswick woman Maryam Hamka was murdered by Loughnane in his Brighton home. Supplied: Victoria Police

Crown prosecutor Kristie Churchill told the jury Ms Hamka was in “brief but controlling and violent relationship” with Loughnane.

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 from a nearby Coles.

Loughnane also threatened to kill his girlfriend via text message.

“Im 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 front of a mutual friend, only stopping when they intervened.

Loughnane’s defence barrister Daniel Sala told the jury his client denied killing Ms Hamka, instead claiming she died from a drug overdose.

Ms Hamka’s remains were found more than two years after she was killed. Picture: 7NEWS

The morning after her death, Loughnane called a friend, Oscar Newman, asking for help.

Mr Newman told the court he knocked on the front door, but no one answered, so he let himself in with a key.

He said he peered into the bathroom where he saw Ms Hamka seated naked in the corner of the shower, believing she had passed out.

“Before turning away, he noticed her face was swollen and her skin was yellowish in colour and the Crown case is that Maryam Hamka is clearly deceased at that point,” Ms Churchill told the jury.

Mr Newman said she didn’t respond when he called out and he went on to find Loughnane passed out in another bedroom.

“He appeared to have had too much GHB,” he said.

Mr Newman was unable to wake his friend, instead returning the next day where Loughnane claimed Ms Hamka had overdosed and died.

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

Outside court, Ms Hamka’s family thanked Ms Churchill for her work on the case.

Loughnane, who is in custody, will face a pre-sentence hearing on October 25.