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He said Zafar broke his family and his heart, and he hoped he would be jailed for “a long, long time”.
In a statement read by a homicide victim support person, Hayat’s mother Mahafuza Akter said she would give anything to see her daughter’s face “one more time”.
Arnima Hayat’s father Abu Hayat arrives at the NSW Supreme Court on Monday.Credit: Nick Moir
“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, please.”
She said she was a beautiful daughter, loving sister and dedicated student “loved by everyone fortunate to meet her”, who would have helped thousands as a doctor. She said her daughter and her 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.
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“After this time, Hayat’s parents did not have any further contact with her for the remainder of her life,” the facts state.
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.
“We understand you’re heartbroken,” the judge said.
The sentence hearing continues on Monday afternoon. Zafar will be sentenced at a later date.
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.