An Australian man who murdered his pregnant wife and dissolved her body in acid will be eligible for parole in 2038.
Meraj Zafar, 23, pleaded guilty to the January 2022 murder of Arnima Hayat, 19, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported.
Authorities believe Zafar strangled or smothered Hayat. He then purchased hydrochloric acid and dissolved her body in a bathtub, ABC reported.
Thursday, Zafar was sentenced to 21 and a half years, meaning he'll be eligible for parole in 2038.
Hayat married Zafar in a private Islamic ceremony in 2021 that their families did not support, News 9 reported.
Hayat later confided to friends that she regretted the marriage and complained that Zafar was abusive. Zafar received an Apprehended Violence Order after telling Hayat's father "I will kill you," ABC reported.
Court documents revealed messages from Hayat highlighting Zafar's domestic abuse. She referenced physical abuse as well as her desire to escape the marriage: "I just don't want (to) say this to your face (because) I'm scared you're going to bash me again," News 9 reported.
The TV station reported that in another message she wrote, "I don't want a son like u. I can't ... have ur child." Zafar responded: "Baby you need to let go of the past whatever I did was not me at all."
The court noted that after killing Hayat, Zafar bought 20 liters of hydrochloric acid and repeatedly Googled "Can hydrochloric acid burn through skin", according to ABC.
Police were called by Zafar's mother who he was in communication with. She told police there had been a bad fight and that Hayat was not breathing, ABC reported. When police arrived they smelled a strong, chemical odor. DNA testing was used to identify Hayat.
Hayat and her parents immigrated to Australia from Bangladesh when she was 9, News 9 reported. She studied medical science and hoped to become a doctor.
