An Australian man is facing charges for allegedly murdering his wife with a homemade spear.
Talaat Hawatt, also known as Terrance Howot, is accused of attacking his wife, Khouloud Bakour Hawatt, on Wednesday, December 11. The New South Wales police responded to a welfare check at a home in Belmore, a suburb of Sydney, and discovered a woman’s body, believed to be hers.
Police reports indicate that the authorities arrested a 35-year-old man at around 8:30 a.m. after conducting inquiries at the scene. He was subsequently taken to Campbelltown Police Station, where he was charged with murder and violating a restraining order, known in Australia as an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order (ADVO).
Campsie police commander Sheridan Waldau described the scene as “very violent,” stating that officers had to force their way into the residence.
Earlier this year, Hawatt managed to have the domestic violence order lifted, which had previously barred him from contacting his wife. This order was placed against him following a court ruling on February 14, prohibiting him from contacting or harming Bakour Hawatt in any way.
In April, he requested the order to be lifted so he could return to their home, which was granted by the court in August. However, he is now charged with the murder of Bakour Hawatt and breaching the ADVO.
The police report revealed that Hawatt was denied bail and appeared in Bankstown Local Court via video link, showing no visible emotion.
Friends and neighbors have shared that Bakour Hawatt was a devoted mother of five, and many have described her as living for her children, who are now left without parents due to this tragic incident. The community is deeply affected, as some neighbors reported frequent disturbances and police visits to the family’s apartment.
Authorities have emphasized the seriousness of domestic violence and the impact such tragedies have on families and communities.
