Man charged with murder after woman’s body dumped in bin in Epping, Melbourne

Lucy Mae Beers
7NEWS
A man has been arrested nearly a week after the body of a woman was found in a bin at a waste management facility.
A man has been arrested nearly a week after the body of a woman was found in a bin at a waste management facility. Credit: 7NEWS

A man has been charged with murder after the body of a woman was found at a waste management facility in Melbourne’s north.

Staff at Repurpose It on Cooper St in Epping found the body while moving green waste last Wednesday.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Police hunt for clues into death of woman dumped in wheelie bin.

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Homicide detectives arrested a 45-year-old Coolaroo man in Glenroy on Tuesday.

After being interviewed about the deceased woman by police, he was charged with murder.

The accused will appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

Police believe the woman was inside a bin picked up outside a home in Coolaroo on Tuesday, July 2, which was then taken to the facility in Epping.

It is believed the pair were known to each other.

The woman is still yet to be formally identified, but police believe she is a 67-year-old from Coolaroo.

Police are still looking through CCTV in the Coolaroo area and have urged anyone who may have vision between June 23 and July 2 to contact them.

Detectives are also keen to speak to anyone who noticed any suspicious behaviour in the area.

Homicide detectives spent Sunday searching the woman’s property in Coolaroo for clues into her death.
Homicide detectives spent Sunday searching the woman’s property in Coolaroo for clues into her death. Credit: 7NEWS

On Monday night, Repurpose It CEO George Hatzimanolis said staff were “deeply saddened” over the discovered in the shed at their facility.

“Our staff members who made this tragic discovery are understandably shaken, and we are ensuring they receive the support and counselling they need,” he said.

“We ask for privacy and understanding for our employees as we navigate through this challenging situation. We are fully co-operating with the police as they conduct their investigations.”

Homicide detectives spent Sunday searching the woman’s property in Coolaroo for clues into her death and fingerprinted bins outside the home.

Neighbours told 7NEWS the woman was “friendly” and had moved into her home just two months ago.

“It’s heartbreaking. To be killed and put in your own rubbish bin, she didn’t deserve to die that way,” one neighbour, who chose to remain anonymous, said.

The body was found at a waste management facility Repurpose It on Wednesday.
The body was found at a waste management facility Repurpose It on Wednesday. Credit: 7NEWS

Another neighbour called it “revolting”.

Police used a locksmith to get into the home of a couple who live on the same street as the woman on Sunday but are understood to be overseas in what was believed to have been an effort to access their CCTV cameras.

Note: Police had earlier stated the body was moved in March. This has been corrected.

Originally published on 7NEWS

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