A Sydney woman, Nirmeen Noufl, has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her husband, Mamdouh Noufl, whom she stabbed, dismembered, and disposed of in garbage bags in May 2023. The guilty plea came after prosecutors decided to withdraw the murder charge, stating they could not disprove Noufl's account that she acted in self-defense.
Noufl, 55, told psychiatrists that her 32-year marriage was marked by domestic violence and her husband's controlling behavior, which included reports of infidelity. According to court documents, Mamdouh Noufl held conservative Islamic views and had recently told his wife that he had met another woman in Egypt whom he intended to marry, while also denying Noufl's request for a divorce.
On the day of the incident, Noufl stated that her husband assaulted her, choking her and pinning her to the ground. She told psychiatrists that she felt her life was in danger and grabbed a tool, fatally stabbing her husband once in the chest. Following the stabbing, court documents indicate that Noufl dismembered her husband's body over the next two days and disposed of the remains in garbage bins across several western Sydney suburbs. Mr. Noufl's remains have not been recovered.
Noufl had initially pleaded not guilty to murder and was scheduled to go to trial in the NSW Supreme Court. The trial was postponed, and she entered her guilty plea to the lesser charge of manslaughter on Wednesday. When questioned by a confidante after the incident, Noufl reportedly said her husband had treated her poorly throughout their marriage and that she had "had enough."
Evidence presented to the court noted that Noufl had a cut on her face, a bleeding lip, and a swollen face when seen by a witness the day after her husband's death. She also expressed remorse, stating, "I'm sorry and I regret it but I genuinely believe it didn't happen and I don't know how I did it."
Noufl was arrested in October 2024 after initially denying any knowledge of her husband's disappearance, who was reported missing two months after his death. She had admitted herself to the acute mental health ward at Bankstown Hospital prior to her arrest. A sentence hearing is scheduled for September 14.
Support is available for those experiencing domestic violence. In Australia, help can be found by calling 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline at 13 11 14, or the Men's Referral Service at 1300 766 491.