Mayraum Hamka death: Toby Loughnane maintains he did not murder partner despite jury’s verdict

The mother of a woman murdered by her boyfriend in a drug-fuelled attack had told a court of the pain of not knowing where she was buried.

The mother of a woman murdered by her abusive boyfriend has described the hellish wait before her remains were found in an isolated bush grave as a pain “no words could ever explain”.

Mayraum Hamka, 36, remained missing for almost 2 and a half years after she vanished in April 2021.

Following a three-week trial earlier this year, her then-boyfriend Toby Peter Loughnane, 44, was found guilty of her murder.

Loughnane appeared disinterested as he returned before the Supreme Court of Victoria on Friday afternoon, seen leaning back in his chair and glancing around the large courtroom.

Loughnane was found guilty of murdering Ms Hamka. Picture: Supplied.

he 36-year-old’s remains were located in August 2023. Picture: Supplied

His barrister, Daniel Sala, told the court Loughnane maintained he was innocent of murder and that Ms Hamka died as a result of a drug overdose.

Prosecutors argued she died as a result of a drug-fueled assault with “murderous intent” in the early hours of April 11, 2021, before Loughnane moved and buried her body days later.

But due to the state her body was found in, no mechanism for death could be established.

Prosecutor Kristie Churchill submitted there was ample evidence to find the pair had a “brief romantic relationship characterised by control, violence and abuse”.

Loughnane was brought into court from prison. Picture: NewsWire / Aaron Francis

The court was told that in the 12 months before she was killed, Loughnane had sent “highly abusive and threatening” text messages to Ms Hamka.

“It is a more serious example of murder because it occurs in that backdrop of violence and threats,” Ms Churchill said.

“He violently killed her on the night in question and … sought to cover up his involvement in her murder through extreme actions.”

But Ms Churchill said the prosecution was not calling for a life sentence.

Ms Hamka was last seen on CCTV leaving a Woolworths supermarket in Brunswick on April 10, and was reported missing by her family days later.

In a statement to the court, her mother, Susan Iramiyan, said her daughter had “so much love for life”.

“I feel guilty even enjoying life; I am hurt, angry and numb. Every day I think about the pain my daughter went through and it shatters my heart all over again,” she said.

Ms Hamka with her mother Susan. Picture: Supplied.

Ms Iramiyan said she had left the home they once shared because the memories were too painful and she would dream of her daughter screaming for help.

“Two long years we waited to bring her home to us,” she wrote.

“No words could ever explain the pain and suffering … I would never wish it on anybody.”

Her brother said while no sentence would bring his sister back, it was his “intense hope” that holding Loughnane accountable for his actions will bring a small amount of closure.

The court was told the couple’s brief relationship was marred by violence. Picture: Supplied

At trial, Loughnane claimed Ms Hamka died from a drug overdose at his Brighton home and he panicked and disposed of her body fearing he would be wrongly blamed.

He denied murdering Ms Hamka and offered to plead guilty to the lesser charge of negligent manslaughter.

On Friday, Mr Sala revealed Loughnane had offered to plead guilty to manslaughter ahead of the trial in March but this was rejected by the prosecution.

“He had been violent and as a consequence of that violence she died,” the barrister said of the offer, which was not put before the jury.

Ms Hamka’s remains were located at Cape Schnack. Picture: 7NEWS

Mr Sala told the court his client was the eldest of three brothers with a good childhood but had fallen into drugs and poor peer groups after his dad’s death.

Ms Hamka’s body was found covered in lime in an isolated bush site at Cape Schnack on the Mornington Peninsula after Loughnane led police to the area in August 2023.

A fracture to her skull was explained by his legal team as the result of being dragged through bush rather than evidence of a violent attack at trial.

Justice Christopher Beale told the court it appeared the disclosure was “self-serving” rather than evidence of remorse as Loughnane was aware a former friend, Oscar Newman, had come forward to police with information.

“I'm not persuaded of any remorse at this stage,” he said.

“In a case like this where more than two years has passed and it only occurred after Oscar Newman implicated your client.”

But Justice Beale said Loughnane would be receiving a sentencing discount for leading police to her remains because there is a “real value” in encouraging others to assist police in this way.

Loughnane will be sentenced on December 18.