Update for teen's alleged killer
The legal team for a man accused of murdering Melbourne teenager Isla Bell will seek to probe expert witnesses during a hearing later this year, a court has heard.
Marat Ganiev and Eyal Yaffe appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday afternoon, more than six months after their arrest over their alleged roles in the death of the 19-year-old last year.
Mr Ganiev has been accused of murdering Ms Bell on October 7 last year at his St Kilda East apartment, while Mr Yaffe has been charged with assisting an offender after the fact.
Both Mr Ganiev and Mr Yaffe watched on via videolink as their matters were mentioned in court on Friday afternoon, while Ms Bell's friends and family sat inside the courtroom. Isla Bell, 19, was allegedly murdered in October last year. Supplied. Credit: Supplied
The court was told that lawyers for both men were expected to make applications to cross examine a series of police and expert witnesses during a four-day committal hearing on September 22.
Following that hearing they will learn whether they will be committed to face trial.
The two men were arrested on November 19 last year after police discovered Ms Bell's remains at a Dandenong waste management facility.
According to court documents, police allege Ms Bell met Mr Ganiev on October 5 and began staying at his apartment.
It's alleged CCTV captured her entering Mr Ganiev's apartment at 9.27pm and she never left.
It has been alleged that she contacted a friend saying she had met the 'best Russian sugar daddy' and he was 'lavishing her with gifts'. Marat Ganiev. Credit: Supplied Eyal Yaffe. NewsWire/David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia
Police allege CCTV captured a fight shortly before 1am on October 7, followed by extensive cleaning by Mr Ganiev over the next few days.
It's alleged that on October 9, Mr Yaffe arrived towing a black fridge on a trailer which was then swapped out eight days later with a fridge wrapped in plastic and black tape.
Police alleged the fridge contained Ms Bell's remains and was moved across several locations in Melbourne's southeast over the following month.
According to police, on November 18 a man opened the fridge, finding a bag with a 'foul smell' which he threw into a rubbish bin believing it was animal remains.
Both Mr Ganiev and Mr Yaffe will return to court on July 1.
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