Body-in-bags victim allegedly had 'fiance' overseas

A woman who allegedly killed and dismembered her husband using kitchen knives and a drop-saw might have done so to escape their abusive and controlling marriage, a court has been told.

Nirmeen Noufl was denied bail during a hearing in the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday, during which a history of significant domestic abuse between her and husband, 62-year-old Mamdouh Noufl, was revealed.

Noufl was arrested in October and charged with murdering her husband in May 2023.

According to court documents, Mr Noufl had become engaged to another woman in Egypt in late 2022, and informed his wife he wished to continue that relationship while also remaining married to her.

Police allege Noufl murdered her husband before dismembering his body and placing it in up to 30 rubbish bags, which she disposed of in residential and industrial bins in the suburbs around Greenacre, in western Sydney.

His remains have never been recovered.

Crown prosecutor William Sit said one aspect relied on for the murder charge was the background of the pair's marriage and long history of abuse.

During one of the instances, Mr Noufl allegedly pulled a knife on his wife, with Mr Sit noting on that occasion she was also alleged to have picked up the knife after her husband put it down.

"There was a motive, a personal motive, for the applicant to act on the night of the alleged offending - and that was to escape a relationship she was not happy with, that she felt trapped with," the prosecutor said.

Mr Sit described the alleged dismemberment as considerably "out of proportion" with the possibility Noufl killed her husband either accidentally or in self-defence.

"To say that it was horrendous and disturbing would be an understatement," he said.

Noufl might have acted on the opportunity presented to her on the day of the alleged killing when her husband granted her power of attorney, providing a potential financial motive.

She subsequently used the power to travel to Egypt and sell several properties, returning to Australia with about $US200,000, the court heard.

Mr Sit said this and Noufl's use of her husband's phone and social media accounts after his death supported the prosecution's argument the killing was intentional.

Defence lawyer Greg James KC also pointed to the history of domestic abuse between the pair, but said it was more indicative of the possibility Noufl acted in self-defence rather than intentionally killing her husband.

"This is obviously a fraught marriage," he said.

Prior to her arrest, Noufl admitted herself to an acute mental health facility, where she was prescribed anti-psychotics.

Mr James argued the alleged disposal of Mr Noufl's body was more indicative of someone suffering from a psychiatric issue rather than someone acting for a financial benefit.

"As the investigation stands, issues of mental health ... issues of provocation, self-defence, unlawful and dangerous act as opposed to intentional killing, are all on the cards," he said.

Mr Sit argued Noufl had no clear diagnosis of psychotic illness and the only evidence was self-reported.

"It's not concrete as to what illness, if any, that she has," he said.

In refusing bail, Justice Deborah Sweeney described the case against Noufl as a strong one and said any mental health issues could be dealt with in custody.

The matter is due to return to court on December 11.

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