‘Appalling’ texts before woman’s murder

News.com.au - 17/02
A man repeatedly threatened to torture and kill his partner in a series of “appalling” messages before she disappeared – with her body not found until years later.

A man repeatedly threatened to torture and kill his partner in a series of “appalling” messages before she disappeared – with her body not found until years later.

Toby Loughnane told the girlfriend he would later murder, Maryam Hamka, he would shoot her, drown her, set her on fire and slice off her face.

Loughnane said he would make Ms Hamka “scream in agony”, and sent messages to her friends asking them to “tell Maryam she’s dead”.

A mock up of texts sent by Toby Loughnane. Picture: Supplied
Brunswick woman Maryam Hamka was murdered. Picture: Victoria Police

The Melbourne man was last week sentenced to 28 years’ prison after being found guilty by a jury thatheard the menacing texts he sent to Ms Hamka in the lead-up to her death in April 2021.

Loughton, an ice and GHB addict, had claimed his girlfriend died from an overdose – but this was rejected by the jury.

“I will beat you beyond recognition, within two inches of y...
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