Lebanese mother in Australia 'beaten to death by estranged husband'

A Lebanese mother-of-three was beaten to death in Australia earlier this week, with her estranged husband the prime suspect, according to Australian news outlets.

Amira Moghnieh, 30, was found unconscious and with critical injuries at the home of Ahmad Hodroj in Bexley, a suburb of southern Sydney, on Wednesday evening.

Moghnieh had gone to 39-year-old Hodroj’s home to pick up their children, who are aged between two and six – but Hodroj had dropped the children off at his sister's house.

Daily Mail Australia reported her cousin, Fadi, as saying that Hodroj had wanted to discuss their divorce settlement, which was going to be finalised in court later in July.

Hodroj was arrested and charged near the scene, according to reports.

Moghnieh, who was a care worker, and Hodroj had separated a year earlier, according to Daily Mail Australia.

Moghnieh had recently secured Australian citizenship and was planning to take her children to Lebanon for a holiday.

Hodroj appeared in court on Thursday, and will appear in court again in August.