A Tragic Oversight: Could Maryam Hamka’s Death Have Been Prevented?
In a heart-wrenching case that has sparked widespread debate, a coroner has declared that a murderer’s extensive history of domestic violence should have set off alarms long before the tragic death of Maryam Hamka. But here’s where it gets controversial: despite clear red flags, the system failed to act decisively, leaving many to wonder—could this tragedy have been avoided?
Maryam Hamka, a 36-year-old woman, was brutally killed by her partner, Toby Loughnane, in April 2021 at his Brighton apartment in Melbourne’s southeast. This wasn’t an isolated incident. Just weeks earlier, on March 6, police responded to a chilling report: Loughnane had chased Hamka with a knife to her mother’s home. Yet, Victoria Police’s Family Violence Investigation Unit classified the incident as medium risk, adhering to their guidelines. And this is the part most people miss—Loughnane’s alarming history of violence, spanning 21 recorded incidents, was seemingly overlooked.
State Coroner Liberty Sanger, in findings released today, emphasized that Loughnane’s long-standing pattern of family violence should have triggered greater concern and specialized intervention. ‘This incident should have been classified as high risk,’ she stated firmly. Despite Hamka denying the incident when contacted by police, her sister confirmed the violence, revealing that Loughnane had previously ‘bashed her really bad.’ Shockingly, a police report noted no prior family violence reports, despite Loughnane’s well-documented history.
On April 11, tragedy struck. Loughnane murdered Hamka and buried her body in a shallow grave at Cape Schanck on the Mornington Peninsula. A jury found him guilty of murder, and in February 2025, he was sentenced to 28 years’ imprisonment with 20 years non-parole. While Coroner Sanger did not suggest that a different risk rating would have prevented Hamka’s death, she highlighted a critical oversight: ‘Even if the risk assessment tool did not assess this as high risk, in my view, this does not obviate the need for members to use professional judgment.’
Loughnane’s history is chilling—21 recorded instances of family violence, prior jail time for violent offenses, breached court orders, and high-risk police monitoring related to other women. Yet, the system failed to connect the dots. Coroner Sanger has recommended that the state government fund an independent evaluation of Victoria Police’s risk models and Family Violence Investigation Units. But the question remains: Is this enough to prevent future tragedies?
A Call to Action and Reflection
This case raises uncomfortable questions about how we assess and respond to domestic violence risks. Should police rely solely on risk assessment tools, or is there a greater need for human judgment and intervention? Could more stringent policies have saved Maryam Hamka’s life? And what steps can we take to ensure that no other victim slips through the cracks?
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, support is available. Call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732, Lifeline on 13 11 14, or the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491. Let’s not wait for another tragedy to act. What do you think—are our current systems enough, or is it time for a radical overhaul? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
