A man’s horrifying threats to his partner before her disappearance and eventual death have led to a lengthy prison sentence for him. Toby Loughnane, a Melbourne man, sent chilling messages to his girlfriend, Maryam Hamka, where he detailed how he would torture and kill her. The messages included threats to shoot her, drown her, set her on fire, and slice off her face.
Loughnane, who was addicted to ice and GHB, was convicted by a jury after they heard the menacing texts he sent to Hamka leading up to her death in April 2021. He initially claimed that Hamka died from an overdose, but this was dismissed by the jury.
The court heard that Hamka likely died on April 11, 2021, after screams and sobs were heard coming from Loughnane’s apartment in Brighton. Loughnane then cleaned his apartment, drove Hamka’s body 50 miles away, and sent messages from her phone to pretend she was still alive.
Despite being in custody, Loughnane did not reveal the location of Hamka’s body until two years later, and her remains were not found until August of that year. The judge noted that Hamka had suffered fractures to her right eye, nasal bones, and the right side of her jaw.
Witnesses testified in Loughnane’s trial about the domestic violence Hamka endured in the months leading up to her death. One witness described how Hamka had come to her with swollen eyes, lips, and injuries after being assaulted by Loughnane. Another witness saw Loughnane physically abuse Hamka in February 2021.
The court also heard about an incident where Loughnane armed himself with a knife and cornered Hamka in a bathroom, prompting her sister’s boyfriend to intervene to save her. The judge accepted the prosecution’s argument that Hamka’s death was a result of ongoing domestic abuse rather than an isolated incident.
Loughnane was sentenced to at least 20 years in prison, with the judge noting that he showed little remorse for his actions. Hamka’s family expressed some relief at the sentence but acknowledged that it would not bring her back. Loughnane will not be eligible for release until 2041.
