A Greenacre woman who allegedly murdered and dismembered her husband, before placing his body parts into between 20 and 30 garbage bags and dumping them in bins across Sydney’s south-west will remain behind bars on remand.
Nirmeen Noufl, 54, appeared in the New South Wales Supreme Court on Thursday in a bid to be released on bail after she was charged with the murder of her husband Mamdouh last month.
Noufl, 62, was reported missing from his Greenacre home in July last year and was initially treated as a missing person before homicide detectives took over the investigation.
Police alleged that Noufl killed her husband and cut up his body with knives and a chainsaw before throwing his remains into trash bins.
The court heard on Thursday that parts of his body were alleged to have been placed in between 20 and 30 rubbish bags and residential and industrial bins across Sydney’s south-west.
Police say Noufl is believed to have been killed in May, but they don’t know exactly how he was killed.
No parts of his body have been located and police have said they did not expect to recover his remains.
Mr Noufl was reported missing by family friends in July last year and police were initially told he had traveled back to his native Egypt.
Nirmeen Noufl (pictured) allegedly murdered her husband Mamdouh Noufl in May
Noufl, 62, was reported missing from his Greenacre home in July last year and was initially treated as a missing person before homicide detectives took over the investigation.
However, when his family in Egypt said they did not know where he was, alarm was raised and police stepped up their investigation, which also included assistance from the New South Wales Crime Commission.
Mrs Noufl is alleged to have been involved in a physical altercation with her husband when he was murdered, the court heard on Thursday.
“The Crown’s statement of case says Ms Noufl suffered minor facial injuries during the alleged physical altercation with the deceased,” Judge Sweeney said.
Judge Sweeney added that his injuries “may give rise to issues of self-defence or provocation.”
The court was also told that Ms. Noufl alleged that Mr. Noufl was abusive and that in 2012 she told a doctor that she was a victim of domestic violence.
Police were also called in 2008 and 2009, the court heard, following reports of domestic violence.
His lawyer Greg James KC applied for bail, attacking the strength of the Crown’s case, arguing that he could not prepare for trial in custody and that no trial would take place before 2026.
He proposed bail conditions that Ms Noufl wear an electronic ankle monitor and live with her family in Greenacre or reside in a mental health facility at Bankstown Hospital.
Forensic officers are seen examining the floor of the couple’s home in Greenacre (pictured)
Police have further alleged that Noufl took control of his mobile phone and social media accounts to impersonate him and verify that he was still alive.
It has been alleged that her Juno Parade home was extensively cleaned and the floorboards torn up after her murder.
In October, detectives arrested Ms Noufl at Bankstown Hospital, where she had been admitted as a mental health patient.
The court was told Ms Noufl had been diagnosed with a depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, and had been noted to have possible psychotic symptoms by a forensic psychiatrist.
Judge Sweeney said Ms Noufl had “told people that she had received communications from an angel”.
It has been alleged that she had financial motives for the alleged murder.
The Crown has alleged that on the day Mr Noufl was killed, he went to the Egyptian embassy and signed a power of attorney in respect of overseas property.
Judge Sweeney on Thursday denied his bail application.
He has not yet entered a plea and will appear in court again on December 11.