Key Takeaways
- Muhammad Abdur Rehman Mirza has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder of Helen Marsuk, a 25-year-old woman he stabbed multiple times in a "ferocious attack".
- Mirza had organised for Ms Marsuk to come to his home to have sex with him in exchange for methamphetamine, but he did not have the drugs and ultimately stabbed her.
- The court heard that Mirza treated Ms Marsuk’s remains with a lack of dignity and respect, and that he had shown no remorse for his actions.
- Mirza has a history of violent behavior and has been diagnosed with narcissistic traits, making him a high risk for future offending.
- Ms Marsuk’s death has left her son without a mother, and the court has acknowledged the significant impact this will have on her family.
Introduction to the Case
The case of Muhammad Abdur Rehman Mirza, a Perth man who stabbed a woman multiple times in a "ferocious attack" before disposing of her body in a South Fremantle harbour, has resulted in a 20-year prison sentence. Mirza had organised for Helen Marsuk, a 25-year-old woman, to come to his Gosnells home to have sex with him in exchange for methamphetamine. However, he did not have the drugs and ultimately stabbed her, keeping her body in a bathroom for days before disposing of it. The court heard that Mirza’s attack on Ms Marsuk was "sustained, ferocious and continued even when she was trying to escape".
The Attack and Its Aftermath
Justice Amanda Forrester described Mirza’s deception regarding the drugs as "disrespectful and degrading". Mirza had initially claimed he acted in self-defence, saying Ms Marsuk became angry and tried to stab him after he revealed he didn’t have the promised methylamphetamine. However, the court found that Mirza had stabbed Ms Marsuk 12 times, and that he had treated her remains with a lack of dignity and respect. After the attack, Mirza went to Bunnings to get cleaning equipment to clean the blood in his home, burned her clothes and some of her property, and disposed of her mobile phone and a knife blade in a lake.
Mirza’s History and Behavior
The court heard that Mirza, who was 21 at the time of the attack, had a history of violent behavior and had been exposed to domestic violence at a young age. He had said he threw cats and dogs off buildings, although his mother had said she was not aware of this behavior. There was expert evidence that Mirza displayed narcissistic traits, was interested in "sexual exploitation", and was at "above-average" risk of future offending. Justice Forrester said that Mirza’s upbringing had some impact on his personal development, but described his expressions of remorse as "shallow".
The Impact on Ms Marsuk’s Family
The court heard that Ms Marsuk was born in Ethiopia in 1997 and moved to Australia in 2000. She had a son who was now without a mother, and the court acknowledged the significant impact this would have on her family. Justice Forrester said that "there will forever be a gulf in that family" and that women were entitled to not be confronted with violence when they met with men. The court’s decision to sentence Mirza to 20 years in prison reflects the severity of the crime and the need to protect the community from further harm.
The Sentence and Its Implications
Mirza pleaded guilty in March to destroying evidence at Gosnells and interfering with a corpse at South Fremantle, and received 15 per cent discounts in sentences for those pleas. He received two years and one year for those offences, which will be served concurrently with the murder sentence. Mirza will be eligible for parole after serving 20 years. The sentence reflects the court’s commitment to holding perpetrators of violent crimes accountable for their actions and to protecting the community from further harm. The case highlights the need for continued efforts to address violence against women and to support those affected by it.