Man Accused of Killing Wife with Homemade Spear in 'Very Violent Murder': Reports

An Australian man is accused of murdering his wife with a homemade spear.

Talaat Hawatt, also known as Terrance Howot, is accused of having attacked his wife Khouloud Bakour Hawatt with the weapon on Wednesday, Dec. 11., per the Sydney Morning Herald.

New South Wales police said in a release that they were called to a home in the Sydney suburb of Belmore at 7.50 a.m. following a concern for welfare report. Officers then located the body of a woman who is yet to be formally identified but is believed to be Bakour Hawatt, per the Sydney Morning Herald.

Police also shared that, following inquiries, they arrested a 35-year-old man who was known to the woman at 8.30 a.m.

The man was then taken to Campbelltown Police Station in New South Wales and charged with murder and contravening a restraining order (known as an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order or ADVO in Australia), per the police.

“It does look like it is a very violent murder scene,” Campsie police commander Sheridan Waldau said, per 9 News Australia, adding that officers had to force entry to the home. 

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The Sydney Morning Herald stated that earlier this year Hawatt convinced a court to lift the domestic violence order preventing him from contacting his wife.

It followed the awarding of an ADVO against him on Feb. 14. by Bankstown Local Court in New South Wales. This stated that Hawatt could not contact, assault, threaten, stalk, or damage anything belonging to Bakour Hawatt. He was also told that he could only speak to her through a lawyer.

In April, Hawatt asked for the restraining order to be lifted so he could move back into the home, reported the Sydney Morning Herald. In August, Bankstown Local Court agreed and changed the ADVO so Hawatt could return and have contact with his wife. 

According to the outlet, he has now been charged with Bakour Hawatt’s murder and breaching the ADVO.

The police report stated that Hawatt was refused bail and the Sydney Morning Herald said that he was “emotionless” as he appeared in Bankstown Local Court via video link.

Khouloud Bakour Hawatt’s Facebook profile features numerous pictures of young children and she is believed to have been a mom-of-five, per the Sydney Morning Herald. 

A neighbor shared with Daily Mail Australia that the children — who are elementary school age or younger — often ran around the apartment making noise.

“I don’t complain because what can you do? It would be hard with five kids,” the neighbor told the outlet adding that police had frequently been called after disturbances. She also recalled the sound of people banging into walls and chasing one another overnight. 

Other neighbors told 9 News Australia that Bakour Hawatt “lived for her children,” the oldest of whom is eight years old and the youngest a newborn. 

Per the outlet, Officer Karen Webb said that [Domestic violence] “keeps her awake at night. That women are not always safe.” 

“It’s a tragedy when things like this happen, particularly when children are involved, children with no parents now,” added Campsie police commander Sheridan Waldau, reported 9 News Australia.