Sydney Man Found Guilty of Murdering Ex-Partner Tatiana Dokhotaru After Disturbing Triple-0 Call

Sydney man Danny Zayat has been found guilty of murdering his ex-partner, Tatiana Dokhotaru, in her Liverpool apartment after a volatile and dysfunctional relationship ended in tragedy.

The New South Wales Supreme Court jury reached its decision after three and a half days of deliberation, returning a majority 11-1 guilty verdict. The case centered on the events of May 2023, when Dokhotaru, 34, placed a frantic triple-0 call saying her ex-partner was “trying to kill me” and “stealing my money.” The call lasted just 89 seconds before it abruptly ended. Prosecutors argued that Zayat threw her phone from the balcony of the high-rise complex, a claim supported by CCTV footage showing a flash of light at the time. The phone was never recovered.

Pathologists determined that Dokhotaru died from blunt force head injuries, the result of multiple blows combined with a fall. The Crown’s case relied on circumstantial evidence, asking jurors to weigh whether Zayat was responsible for the three acute injuries that collectively caused a fatal brain injury.

During the trial, jurors sought clarification from Justice Desmond Fagan on the distinctions between murder and manslaughter. By mid-week, they reported difficulty reaching a unanimous decision. On Thursday, the judge allowed a majority verdict, and within ten minutes the jury returned with its finding of guilt.

Zayat showed little reaction as the verdict was read, though he hung his head after sitting down. The trial highlighted the turbulent nature of his relationship with Dokhotaru, which prosecutors described as “volatile, dysfunctional and at a real low” in the months leading up to her death.

The case drew attention to the harrowing final moments of Dokhotaru’s life, captured in her desperate emergency call. Jurors were asked to consider a complex matrix of circumstantial evidence, including her injuries, the missing phone, and Zayat’s behavior before and after the incident.

Zayat now awaits sentencing, with the court set to determine the length of his prison term later this year. The verdict marks a significant outcome in a case that has underscored the devastating consequences of domestic violence and the challenges of proving guilt through circumstantial evidence.