'Sheikh' Man Haron Monis and partner in court in connection with woman's murder

[b]A SELF-styled Muslim sheikh who sent offensive letters to the families of dead Australian soldiers has faced court in connection with the murder of a woman. [b/]

Man Haron Monis, 49, fronted Burwood Local Court yesterday charged with being an accessory before and after the fact to the murder of Noleen Hayson Pal, who was stabbed and set alight in a western Sydney apartment stairwell earlier this year.

Monis, also known as Sheikh Haron, was arrested in Campsie yesterday along with his partner Amirah Droudis, 34, who has been charged with murdering Ms Pal.

Dressed in black tracksuit pants, Monis did not apply for bail and it was formally refused. Droudis, wearing a black blouse, also did not apply for bail.

Police say the three people knew each other.

Emergency workers found Ms Pal's body in a Werrington apartment block on April 21 after responding to a fire.

The 30-year-old had allegedly been stabbed multiple times and set alight.

The pair will appear in Penrith Local Court on November 22.

Monis caused outrage when he sent letters to the grieving families of seven soldiers killed in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2009, likening the dead diggers to murderers and killers.

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