Tatiana Dokhotaru, 34, was allegedly murdered in her apartment in southwest Sydney on May 26, 2023. Her ex-boyfriend, Danny Zayat, 30, is currently on trial in the New South Wales Supreme Court, where he has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. The prosecution claims Zayat inflicted fatal blows to Dokhotaru's head, possibly in conjunction with a push that caused her to fall.

In the weeks leading up to her death, Dokhotaru confided in a friend about a violent altercation with Zayat. She described an incident where he allegedly dragged her by the hair, spat on her multiple times, and threatened to kill her. In a text message sent to her friend Arian Monchizada on April 13, she wrote, "I was fighting him off. I tried calling the cops, but he said he'll kill me if I do. It was absolute hell. My body is in shock. My mind is too."

The court heard that Dokhotaru felt "so humiliated and violated" after the alleged assault and struggled to cope with the emotional aftermath. Just weeks later, she reported another attack by Zayat, claiming he strangled her after accusing her of messaging his friend. In a text dated May 1, she stated, "He strangled me so bad (sic), my throat is so bruised and swollen, I can barely breathe."

During the trial, CCTV footage was presented showing Zayat arriving at Dokhotaru's apartment the day after her death with his mother. Jamile Zayat testified that they rang the doorbell but received no response and left after a few minutes. Later that night, Zayat returned and discovered Dokhotaru's body, telling emergency operators it appeared she had been dead for some time.

Dokhotaru's parents, who reside in Canada, also testified about Zayat's abusive phone calls to their daughter during a visit in 2022. The prosecution argues that Zayat exhibited a pattern of violent and abusive behavior throughout their tumultuous relationship, which continued even after their breakup. An interim two-year domestic violence order was issued against Zayat in May 2022 to protect Dokhotaru.

Zayat's defense attorney, Madeleine Avenell SC, acknowledged the couple's "volatile and dysfunctional" relationship but maintained that Zayat did not kill Dokhotaru. The trial is ongoing, with further proceedings scheduled for Friday. Support services are available for those affected by domestic violence, including the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).