Pregnant teen dissolved in acid bath by controlling husband in horrific murder

Arnima Hayat and Meraj Zafar
-Credit:Facebook


A bright medical student was murdered by her abusive and controlling husband while pregnant. Arnima Hayat was a gifted student who had moved to Australia from Bangladesh with her family at the tender age of nine.

The youngster had dreams of becoming a surgeon one day, and her parents had moved countries in a bid to provide Arnima with the best opportunities in life. As a youngster, she slotted into her life in Australia perfectly, where her parents had set up a thriving butcher's shop, reports the Mirror.

She soon became an Australian citizen, perfecting her English and discovering a love for iced coffee, make-up and sushi. Arnima's parents were overjoyed when she secured a place studying medicine at Western Sydney University and they worked tirelessly to pay the fees, with Arnima working part-time job at a shopping centre to help.

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However, after meeting her first boyfriend, Meraj Zafar, the 19-year-old found herself trapped in an abusive marriage with a baby on the way. Just four months after tying the knot, she was desperate to leave her husband and terrified of him - her world began spiralling out of control.

The apprentice builder towered over Arnima from the start and her family were concerned about their relationship from very early on. Zafar would convince Arnima to drink alcohol, with rumours circulating that he was a drug user.

At this time, Arnima also began pulling away from her family, which was unlike the teen. In May 2021, Zafar approached Arnima's father, Abu Hayat, and asked for permission for the pair to marry.

Killer Meraj Zafar -Credit:Facebook
Killer Meraj Zafar -Credit:Facebook

However, Abu's reluctancy sparked anger in Zafar and he later called Abu whilst swearing and being abusive, yelling: "Are you man or a lady? “Why can’t you make a decision?”

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Abu contacted the police due to his concerns, with Zafar admitting that he'd been making the calls and was issued a form of restraining order. In October 2021m, Zafar and Arnima secretly married in a private Islamic ceremony with no friends or family present. The pair were living together in a flat in the Sydney suburb of North Parramatta and became even more isolated.

The teenager who loved music and shopping suddenly became withdrawn and stopped contacting her family, as she entered her second year of studies. By January 2022, Arnima was unhappy and pregnant, telling friends that Zafar had been abusive. She explained that when she asked permission to leave the house, he'd call her a "dumb bitch".

She also revealed that he'd once strangled her until she was unconcious as he believed he'd seen her with another man. Arnima sent him messages begging him to allow her to leave. “I just don’t want to say this to your face because I’m scared you’re going to bash me again,” she wrote. “I don’t want a son like you.”

Zafar replied, “Baby, you need to let go of the past – whatever I did was not me at all.” But Arnima confided in friends that he was jealous and controlling. She regretted the marriage and was thinking about going to the police but was scared about what Zafar might do.

On 29 January, Arnima sent a message to a friend saying, “I have nobody except you,” and said she wanted to leave. The friend replied, “You have got no choice. You have to stay with him.” Arnima responded at 9.10pm, saying, “No, I hate him.” It would be the last time anyone would hear from her.

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The following day, Zafar's mother contacted police to report her son's admission that he'd had a fight with Arnima and he was unsure if she was still breathing. Zafar had also asked how much a ticket overseas would cost.

Arnima with her sister -Credit:YOUTUBE/7NEWS Australia/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ6ok9v9wwM
Arnima with her sister -Credit:YOUTUBE/7NEWS Australia/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ6ok9v9wwM

Police quickly raced to the flat, breaking down the door. Officers were soon overpowered by a strong chemical smell coming from the bathroom, and soon discovered Arnima's bodt lying face down in a bath of hydrochloric acid.

According to reports, the body was so badly decomposed from the acid that the remains had to be identified through DNA, which confirmed it was Arnima. Zafar was missing alongside his white truck. He was quickly named prime suspect and an image of him was released. 20 hours later he handed himself in.

The police concluded that Arnima had been killed just 45 minutes after last texting her friend. Zafar left the flat at 9.55pm and by then Arnima was dead. CCTV footage from the next morning showed Zafar driving his work truck to a home improvement story where he purchased 20 litres of hydrochloric acid. He later returned to buy another 80 litres.

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Despite denying murder, it was determined that he had killed Arnima and was trying to get rid of the body. Zafar’s internet history revealed he had searched “Can hydrochloric acid burn through skin?” several times before he bought the acid. He’d also searched, “How many years do you get in Sydney for murder?”

Following the tragic murder, Arnima's family were devastated. They were unable to see her one last time due to the acid destroying her body. It also meant their tradition of having an open coffin at her funeral was impossible.

In May 2024, Zafar pleaded guilty to murder. The judge said he had murdered his wife by “obstructing her breathing or smothering her” then he had tried to dissolve her body in a bath of corrosive acid.

“He acted in such a way because of his anger and the prospect of Ms Hayat leaving him,” the judge said. “This was against a background of controlling and violent behaviour by the offender. The offence occurred in the home of Ms Hayat, where she was entitled to feel safe.”

In December 2024, Zafar, then 23, was sentenced. Arnima’s father said he had broken their family, their future and their hearts. “I miss my daughter every day and see her face in my dreams,” he said. “He burned the face I used to kiss every night. Can you imagine someone burning your child?”

Arnima’s mother, Mahafuza Akter, had her statement read for her by a support person. “There is no joy, no laughter, only suffering and pain. My tears are neverending and the deep ache in my heart never stops,” they read, adding that Arnima had been stolen from them and all the people she would have helped when she became a doctor.

Mahafuza 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. I kiss and hug her tombstone, longing to hold and smell her.”

In a letter to the court, Zafar said he took full responsibility. “I don’t know how to begin to say how sorry I am for all that I have caused and all that I have affected through my actions,” he wrote. “It’s the most terrible thing to do to someone else.”

The judge noted Zafar only referred to Arnima as “his wife” rather than using her name, which was yet another example of how he believed he owned the young woman. Zafar was sentenced to 21 years and six months with a non-parole period of 16 years.

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