By Sarah McPhee
Warning: Graphic content
The father of a pregnant Sydney woman murdered by her husband before her body was placed in a bath of acid has told a court her killer burned the very face he used to talk to and kiss, as her mother spoke of now stroking the grass by her daughter’s grave instead of her hair.
Arnima Hayat, 19, was killed by Meraj Zafar in their North Parramatta unit on the night of January 29, 2022.
Arnima Hayat was murdered by her husband Meraj Zafar.Credit: Facebook
Zafar pleaded guilty to murder in May, two weeks before he was due to face trial in the NSW Supreme Court. The 23-year-old appeared via video link for his sentence hearing on Monday, which coincided with International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
Hayat’s father Abu Hayat, reading his victim impact statement to the court, said he was “extremely proud” of his daughter, who had been studying medical science at Western Sydney University.
He said his “whole life fell apart” when she was murdered, and he was unable to work.
“We lost our daughter and everything else,” Hayat said.
He said he misses his daughter every day and sees her face in his dreams.
“I couldn’t see her face after she died because he burned her body,” he said. “He burned the face I used to talk to and kiss every night. He burned her. Can you imagine? Can you imagine someone burning your child? I can never see her again.”
He said Zafar broke his family and his heart, and he hoped he would be jailed for “a long, long time”.
Arnima Hayat’s father Abu Hayat arrives at the NSW Supreme Court on Monday.Credit: Nick Moir
In a statement read by a support person, Hayat’s mother Mahafuza Akter said she would give anything to see her daughter’s face “one more time”.
“Instead, I sit by her grave every Friday, stroking the grass because I can no longer stroke her hair,” she said.
“I kiss and hug her tombstone, longing to hold her and smell her. How do I live without you? Please come home.”
She said she was a beautiful daughter, loving sister and dedicated student, who would have helped thousands as a doctor. Akter said her daughter and unborn child – “my innocent grandchild” – were stolen from the family.
Mahafuza Akter, right, the mother of murdered 19-year-old Arnima Hayat, leaves the NSW Supreme Court in Sydney after killer Meraj Zafar’s sentence hearing on Monday.Credit: Nine News
“So much was lost in one person,” she said.
“There is no joy, no laughter, only suffering and pain. My tears are never-ending and the deep ache in my heart never stops.”
Akter said Zafar “wasn’t a good man” and they had not wanted their daughter to marry him.
She said Hayat was murdered by the person supposed to love, protect and respect her.
“We thought she’d figure it out and come home to us. I know now that she did, but it was too late to save her. It was too late to save you.”
Hayat had wanted to leave Zafar at the time of her death, according to the agreed facts.
“The motive the offender had at the time of the act was his anger at the prospect of Ms Hayat leaving him and the end of the marriage,” the facts state. “This was in the context of Ms Hayat being pregnant at the time [of] her death.”
‘There is no joy, no laughter, only suffering and pain. My tears are never ending and the deep ache in my heart never stops.’
Mahafuza Akter
An interim apprehended violence order was made in October 2021 for the protection of Hayat’s father from Zafar after an argument ahead of the marriage.
Hayat’s direct cause of death could not be ascertained, but she was choked or smothered by her husband who acted with “reckless indifference”.
The day after the killing, Zafar was captured on CCTV buying five 20-litre tubs of acid over two trips to Bunnings Northmead, which he poured into the bath in an attempt to dispose of Hayat’s remains.
Zafar’s internet searches included querying “can hydrochloric acid burn through skin” and “how many years do you get in Sydney for murder”.
Justice Deborah Sweeney told Hayat’s parents she was sorry for the terrible loss of their beautiful and clever daughter and understood they were “heartbroken”.
In a letter of apology, read by defence barrister Tom Hughes, Zafar said he was “very sorry”.
He said he took “full responsibility” for the “most terrible thing”, adding that nobody should be subjected to violence or “discarded in such a way”.
“My wife didn’t deserve what I did,” Zafar said. He asked Hayat’s family: “I hope one day you can forgive me.”
Crown prosecutor Fiona Gray argued Zafar had only referred to Hayat as “my wife”, and “she is not viewed as having an independent value” separate to the relationship, during which Zafar had been “possessive and controlling”.
Hughes submitted the letter demonstrated “acceptance, insight and genuine remorse”.
Zafar will be sentenced on December 19.
If you or anyone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (and see lifeline.org.au), 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), the National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service on 1800 211 028 or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.