Sabita Thanwani: Man accused of murdering 19 year-old found dead in student halls appears in court

Maher Maaroufe, 22, is said to have been in a relationship with the 19-year-old before he allegedly attacked her.

Thursday 24 March 2022 09:03 EDT

Tributes were paid to the student Sabita Thanwani after her death (Family Handout/SWNS)

The boyfriend of a student found dead in student halls has appeared at the Old Bailey accused of her murder.

Maher Maaroufe, 22, is said to have been in a relationship with 19-year-old Sabita Thanwani before he allegedly attacked her.

At about 1.50am on Saturday March 19, it is claimed the couple arrived at Ms Thanwani’s university accommodation in Clerkenwell, central London.

A neighbour alerted emergency services after hearing screams coming from her room.

It is alleged her attacker tried the door of another room before leaving the building in Sebastian Street.

Police found Ms Thanwani lying beneath blankets and a duvet on the floor with a serious neck injury.

She was pronounced dead at the scene at 6am.

A post-mortem examination gave her cause of death as sharp force trauma to the neck.

On Sunday, Maaroufe was found sleeping under tarpaulin in a garden shed.

He allegedly head-butted a police officer as he was being arrested.

The following day, Maaroufe was charged with Ms Thanwani’s murder and assaulting an emergency worker.

On Thursday, he appeared at the Old Bailey before Judge Mark Lucraft QC.

The defendant, of no fixed address, was assisted by an Arabic interpreter as he confirmed his identity.

Judge Lucraft set a plea hearing for June 30 and remanded Maaroufe into custody.