New clue in search for suspected murder victim Maryam Hamka
Detectives desperate to find answers for the family of missing woman Maryam Hamka believe they have a clue that could explain why she vanished.
Police & Courts
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Police have released an image of the make of car they believe is a key element in the case of suspected murder victim Maryam Hamka.
It is a red 2015 Mazda 3 hatchback with what investigators have described as distinctive damage to its front left guard.
Missing persons squad detectives say it was driven in and out of Brighton several times in the days after Ms Hamka disappeared.
Ms Hamka, 36 was last seen alive when she left a Woolworths supermarket in Albert St, Brunswick, at 5.30pm on April 10.
Police are looking for sightings from Melbourne or country Victoria of the Mazda between April 13 and April 15.
They say it would have been driven in and out of Brighton by a man with no passengers.
Ms Hamka’s boyfriend, Toby Loughnane of Brighton, has been charged with offences unrelated to her disappearance.
Mr Loughnane is on remand over those matters.
A search warrant has been carried out at his Brighton home.
Detective Insp. Andrew Stamper of the missing persons squad said he understood the Mazda was a common car but said the damage made it distinctive.
“At this stage we’re not able to limit too much the areas the car has travelled to, so we’re appealing to the general public to check their CCTV and dashcam footage for a vehicle matching this description,” he said.
“We do know the car has left a residence in Brighton, so this really marks our starting point.
Ms Hamka is described as 165cm tall and of thin build with long black hair, brown eyes and an olive complexion.
She was last seen in a black dress when she told family members she was going to see a friend in Brighton.
Police have again urged the public to look at CCTV of Ms Hamka from the Woolworths in the hope that it may help bring forward information.
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