Boyfriend charged with Nikkita Azzopardi’s murder after her brother finds body in South Morang home
The boyfriend of Nikkita Azzopardi, 35, who was killed in a Melbourne home has been charged with her murder.
Joel Micallef, 33, was arrested outside a Reid St residence in South Morang shortly after Azzopardi’s concerned brothers and father broke into the home and discovered her lifeless body about 10am on Monday.
“I barged in there and my father and my brother tried to look for her,” Nikkita’s brother Shaun Azzopardi told reporters on Monday.
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“I just can’t get that image out of my head.”
Nikkita’s family had unsuccessfully attempted to contact Nikkita by phone several times on Monday.
They grew concerned after she failed to arrive at a family barbecue, and drove to South Morang where they confronted Micallef and broke into the home.
7NEWS understands Nikkita lived between the South Morang townhouse where she was found and another residence in Thornbury.
Detectives returned to the home on Tuesday to continue their investigations. Police had been interviewing Micallef and on Tuesday charged him with one count of murder.
He will face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Shaun described his younger sister as a “gentle soul” who would help anyone.
“She’ll do anything for anyone ... she didn’t see the bad in people and always saw the good,” he said.
“You think it’s not going to happen to you, to your sister or your brother, but I’m not going to see my sister again. It doesn’t feel real.”
The last time Shaun saw his sister alive was at his son’s 15th birthday, which she had arranged at a go-karting venue.
“In hindsight, if you knew it was the last time, you’d be doing more, you’d be asking more, you’d be taking pictures,” Shaun said.
“I don’t know my father’s state, my mum’s state, my brother’s state - how do you move past this, how do you get through it?”
Nikkita was a hardworking accountant, who was close to her family.
“Our hearts go out to her family,” Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan said.
“This has been a year where we have seen far too many women lose their lives.”
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.
In an emergency, call 000.
Advice and counselling for men concerned about their use of family violence: Men’s Referral Service, 1300 766 491.
Originally published on 7NEWS
