Pregnant student in abusive marriage found decomposed in bath of acid

A medical student and expectant mother had her prospects cut tragically short after she ended up in an abusive relationship that cost her her life.  Arnima Hayat moved to Australia from Bangladesh at the age of nine with her family, and had hopes of being a surgeon from an early age. She quickly fit into life in the new country and became an Australian citizen.

Arnima also fostered a close relationship with her sister, 11 years her junior, as well as her parents – who proudly watched on as she was accepted to study medicine at Western Sydney University, working part-time at a shopping centre to make ends meet.

      Arnima was close with her family, including her younger siste

However, things took a turn when Arnima, then 19, met Meraj Zafar, 20, an apprentice builder. The pair quickly struck up a relationship, but Arnima’s parents had concerns about the budding romance from the get go. Zafar tried to get his girlfriend to drink alcohol anf there was speculation he used drugs. Arnima began to pull away from her family.

In May 2021, Zafar asked Arnima’s dad, Abu Hayat, for permission to marry his daughter. A reluctant Abu asked to meet Zafar’s parents, prompting the disgruntled boyfriend to become enraged and shout. Later, he phoned Abu multiple times, where he swore and yelled. “Are you man or a lady? Why can’t you make a decision?” he demanded.

Concerned, Abu went to the police. Zafar was given a restraining order after admitting to the phone calls.  In October 2021, the couple married in a secret ceremony with no friends or family. The pair increasingly withdrew from those they knew, living together in a flat in Sydney. Arnima stopped phoning her family.  By January 2022, Arnima was expecting a baby. However, she was not happy in her marriage and had admitted to friends that Zafar was abusive.

         Arnima and Zafar married in a secret ceremony

She wasn’t allowed to leave the house without permission and her husband had once strangled her to the point of unconsciousness because he thought he had seen her with another man. He was also verbally abusive, calling her a ‘dumb bitch.’  Arnima would send her husband messages asking permission 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.”

However, Zafar would claim his actions were “not me” and told her to “let go of the past.”  On 29 January, Arnima texted a friend saying: I have nobody except you,” and admitting she wanted to leave. The friend responded: “You have got no choice. You have to stay with him.” At 9.10pm, Arnima said: “No, I hate him.” It was the last time anyone heard from her.