Ayad lied about being married to Ayliffe-Chung and dragged her out of her bed before repeatedly stabbing her when his frustration boiled over.
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The suspect in the murder of a British backpacker in Australia is 29-year-old Frenchman Smail Ayad.
Townsville Regional Crime Co-ordinator Ray Rohweder told reporters that Smail Ayad, a 29-year-old from France, became violent against officers on Tuesday night as they drove him from hospital to the Townsville Police Station.
He is also charged with the attempted murder of British man Tom Jackson, who remains in a critical condition on life support in hospital after being severely wounded while trying to save her.
He is also accused of injuring an unidentified local man and killing a dog.
Ayad will not appear in court in Townsville in person but by video link.
Ayad underwent a psychiatric assessment and may have used cannabis prior to the attack, Rohweder said, adding police were probing if the suspect had any romantic interest in Mia.
Police alleged Ayad shouted the Arabic phrase “Allahu Akbar”, meaning “God is great”, during the attack and while being arrested, but the investigation had not uncovered any links to extremism.
“I don’t believe there was any romance, there’s no doubt about that”.
Mother Rosie Ayliffe said in a statement: “My beloved daughter Mia was an unbelievable young woman with an adventurous spirit”.
Mr Jackson’s father is on his way to Australia but he said he did not believe any of Miss Ayliffe-Chung’s family would be travelling to the country.
There are also reports of another incident on Wednesday night, when officers had to use tazers and capsicum spray to subdue Ayad at the Townsville watch house, where he is now being held.
“We are certainly not ruling anything out but what I can say at this stage there is absolutely no – and I repeat – there is absolutely no indication of any form of radicalization or any particular motive in relation to this matter”, Detective Superintendent Ray Rohweder told a press conference.
Supt Rohweder said interviews with witnesses left investigators in no doubt that any romantic feelings Ayad had towards Ms Ayliffe-Chung were not reciprocated. She wanted to get a sponsorship in the Gold Coast or Melbourne and live in Australia after she returned from her farm work. She had a passion for life and it was contagious if you knew her.
Speaking of Mr Jackson, Samantha Harrison wrote on Facebook: “Tom Jackson was a very close friend and one of the most fantastic people I have ever met”.
“She was a attractive girl who had her whole life ahead of her”.
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Ayliffe-Chung had only arrived in Home Hill a few days before the attack.
