Police have revealed the troubled past of a husband who was arrested after his wife was found dead at a “very violent murder scene” at the couple’s home.
Police rushed to a unit complex on Knox Street in Belmore in Sydney’s south-west at 7.50am on Wednesday after receiving a call about a ‘distressed woman’.
Mother-of-five Khouloud Hawatt was found dead in one of the apartments.
Her husband Talaat Hawatt, 35, was later arrested in Denham Court, about 20 miles east of Belmore, and is expected to be charged with her murder.
The couple, who married in Lebanon in 2015, have five children ranging in age from six months to eight years old.
Chief Inspector Sheridan Waldau said Ms Hawatt died ‘early this morning’ as officers encountered ‘a very violent murder scene’.
Hawatt has a history of weapons offenses and his wife had a warrant for his arrest when she was allegedly murdered, Supt Waldau said.
She said it could be difficult for police to enforce AVOs if incidents go unreported.
Mother-of-five Khouloud Hawatt was found dead in a unit in Belmore on Wednesday
Her husband Talaat Hawatt (photo) was arrested by the police on Wednesday. He was taken to Campbelltown police station where he is expected to be charged with murder
A crime scene has been established at the couple’s home in Belmore (pictured)
“And that’s the biggest thing with domestic violence: the victims don’t come forward,” she told a news conference on Wednesday.
“The relatives and friends of these people should encourage them to come forward to us because we cannot help them if they do not ask for help.
‘We know that it takes victims some time, up to 27 times, before they come to us for help.
“It’s a tragedy when things like this happen.”
Police were also called about Hawatt less than 48 hours later when he was allegedly involved in an incident at the school two of his children attended.
By the time police arrived, he had left the school and no violations had been committed.
Supt Waldau confirmed Hawatt was known to a strike force targeting domestic abuse perpetrators known as Operation Amarok.
Hawatt (pictured right) has been taken to Campbelltown Police Station where he is currently being interviewed by homicide detectives
“I know he has come to Amarok’s attention before and only underwent a compliance check by Campsie Police in August,” she told the media.
A woman who knew Ms. Hawatt said she spoke to her on Tuesday and there was no indication anything was wrong.
She claimed the family would be evicted in a few weeks and that neighbors had complained of them shouting and banging doors.
It is understood the young mother has no family in Australia, but Mr Hawatt’s father lived in Condell Park in Sydney’s south-west.
‘The mother used to come into our store. She was very calm. It’s so sad because they have five children,” a local worker told Daily Mail Australia.
Police are seen outside the house in Sydney’s south-west on Wednesday