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AAP
AAP
National
Miklos Bolza

Fewer DV charges for Tatiana Dokhotaru's alleged killer

Danny Zayat is accused of murdering his partner Tatiana Dokhotaru and domestic violence offences. (Samantha Manchee/AAP PHOTOS)

A Sydney man accused of murdering his partner Tatiana Dokhotaru will face 17 domestic violence charges over alleged abuse and intimidation.

Prosecutors allege Danny Zayat fatally struck 34-year-old Ms Dokhotaru in full view of a child in a Liverpool apartment one evening in May 2023.

He appeared by video-link wearing prison greens before Campbelltown Local Court on Wednesday.

Prosecutors have finalised the charges against him, including 17 domestic violence offences regarding alleged abuse between May 2021 and May 2023 just before she was killed.

On his arrest, the 29-year-old faced a slew of domestic violence charges including assault, choking, intimidation and breaching an apprehended domestic violence order in May 2023.

Three months later, he was charged with Ms Dokhotaru's murder.

On Wednesday, Zayat and his legal team were handed a charge certificate with 17 domestic violence charges and one murder charge prosecutors will be willing to take to trial if he pleads not guilty.

Eight charges were dropped, including for choking, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, stalking or intimidation, and destroying or damaging property.

He will now head into a case conference where negotiations could be made with prosecutors, and possible plea deals

Police believe Ms Dokhotaru was already dead by the time officers responded to the initial triple-zero call and arrived at the apartment tower in the early hours of May 27.

An internal police investigation has been launched into that response after officers were unable to find which apartment in the Liverpool tower the call had come from.

The matter will come back before Campbelltown Local Court on June 5.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

Lifeline 13 11 14

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