Man Sentenced to Over Two Decades for Murdering Pregnant Wife and Attempting to Dissolve Her Body in Acid

Meraj Zafar, convicted of killing 19-year-old Arnima Hayat in 2022, will serve at least 16 years in prison for the violent and premeditated crime.

Meraj Zafar was sentenced to 21 and a half years in prison, with a non-parole period of 16 years, for the murder of his pregnant wife, Arnima Hayat, in January 2022.
Zafar killed 19-year-old Hayat in their Sydney apartment after she expressed plans to leave him due to his controlling and violent behavior.
After the murder, Zafar purchased hydrochloric acid and attempted to dissolve her body in a bathtub, rendering her unrecognizable and requiring DNA to confirm her identity.
Hayat had previously confided in friends about Zafar's abuse, including instances of physical violence, but she had not reported it to the police.
The court heard that Zafar acted out of anger at the prospect of Hayat leaving him, and he later expressed remorse in a letter but was not deemed to have genuine hallucinations as he claimed in custody.