Accused killer Meraj Zafar is seen sharing a tender moment with his teenage lover in a social media post – before he later allegedly killed her and dumped her body in a bath of acid.
The grisly remains of Aminah Hayat, 19, were allegedly found in the couple’s bathtub on Sunday, at the unit they shared in North Parramatta, in Sydney’s west.
There are claims the couple – who were pictured by Daily Mail Australia for the first time on Tuesday – had recently married.
Court papers revealed Zafar’s girlfriend may have been slumped in the tub for more than a day before she was found.
Prosecution documents reveal police believe Ms Hayat was murdered between midday and 5pm on Saturday – more than 24 hours before police found her body.
Police smashed their way into the apartment in North Parramatta on Sunday after neighbours reported hearing screams and worried relatives raised the alarm.
Accused killer Meraj Zafar is seen in new pictures as he shares a tender moment with teenage lover Aminah Hayat – before he later allegedly killed her and dumped her body in a bath of acid
Detectives launched a manhunt for Meraj Zafar, 20, (pictured) who seen fleeing the scene in his truck. He later handed himself in to police on Monday and was charged with her murder.
In the couple’s salmon pink bathroom at their rented $320-a-week two-bedroom unit, they allegedly found the Ms Hayat’s remains dissolving in the acid bath.
Detectives launched a manhunt for boyfriend Zafar, 20, who seen fleeing the scene in his truck. He later handed himself in to police on Monday and was charged with her murder.
His lawyer Mohamad Sakr faced court on his behalf on Tuesday and said Zafar was ‘distraught’ about being in custody after his first night behind bars.
Ms Hayat’s hairdresser Sadia Ali said she was heartbroken by the tragedy.
‘It’s terrible news,’ she told Daily Mail Australia. ‘She was such a beautiful soul.’
Locals recalled Ms Hayat as being an ideal neighbour but rarely spoke to her. Zafar told neighbours he was from Pakistan but they said his English was excellent.
Next door neighbour Ali Safari identified the couple from social media photos and said Ms Hayat had ‘seemed very happy’ and was ‘smiling and pleasant’.
He added: ‘She was always playing music. She was quiet, I never spoke with her.’
Mr Safari said his partner heard shouting coming from the apartment on one of the mornings last weekend, bit said it was only a brief short outburst.
As well as his truck, neighbours said Zafar also owned a black BMW coupe which was searched and removed by detectives.
Meraj Zafar, 20, handed himself in to police on Monday after a manhunt for the bearded truck driver seen here. He did not apply for bail and it was formally refused on Tuesday
The couple are said to have moved into the apartment (pictured) together last October
Mr Sakr did not apply for bail on behalf of Zafar at court this morning and it was formally refused by Magistrate Shane McAnulty.
Mr Sakr said he did not know if the accused would be applying for bail when the case resumes at Parramatta Court on April 5. He said he couldn’t comment on whether the accused had injuries, or if he had the support of family members.
‘I had a chance to speak with him… it’s a matter of whether he wishes to fight the charges,’ Mr Sakr said.
Mr Sakr commended his client for handing himself into police. ‘He has done the right thing in attending the police station,’ Mr Sakr said.
Lawyer Mohamad Sakr (pictured) told reporters outside court his client Meraj Zafar is distraught after spending his first night behind bars
Police charged the man after a woman was allegedly found dead in an acid-filled bath (pictured) in the unit in Sydney’s west
The accused’s lawyer would not confirm if he was married to Aminah Hayat or just her boyfriend, saying ‘he is someone who is in a relationship with her’.
However, Daily Mail Australia has been told the couple was unmarried and just in a relationship when they both signed the lease last October on the flat where Ms Hayat’s body was found in the bath.
A property agent said the pair ‘just seemed like a normal young couple’.
Police officers outside the apartment complex on Monday
On Monday, police released CCTV images of a man – alleged to be Zafar – driving a tipper truck, sporting a dark beard and sunglasses, in the hopes he could assist with inquiries into Miss Hayat’s death.
A truck matching the police description was later found at a Bunnings in Greenacre in south-west Sydney and was seized by detectives to undergo forensic tests.
Zafar handed himself in a short time later.
Evidence was seen being taken from the scene in special biohazard bags (pictured)
Parramatta Police Area Commander Superintendent Julie Boon said police had found her body in the bathroom of the first-floor unit along with chemicals.
‘The officers forced entry into the unit and inside the bathroom they found the body of a female,’ she said.
‘I can confirm there were chemicals found inside the bathroom of the unit. I can’t confirm what they were.
‘The scene was very challenging for arriving police. When they did arrive and found chemicals at the unit, they retreated and called other units.’
Zafar will return to court in April.