The boyfriend of a woman whose body was found by her family during a welfare check has failed to front court after being charged with her murder.
Nikkita Azzopardi, 35, was found dead on Monday inside a South Morang home in Melbourne’s north-east after her father and brothers could not contact her.
On Wednesday, her alleged killer Joel Micallef, 33, was scheduled to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court for a brief filing hearing.
But the court heard Micallef was unable to appear due to being in hospital.
It remains unclear why the alleged killer was hospitalised, with his lawyer telling the court her client was suffering from ‘health complications’.
A brief of evidence compiled by police against Micallef will be handed to the court by January 22, with the alleged killer expected to appear in court in March.
No information about how detectives put their case against Micallef was aired in court. The court heard Micallef’s stint in jail was the first in his life.
His alleged victim was found by her two brothers and father after they drove to their home when she had failed to show up at a family barbecue the night before.
Ms Azzopardi’s family came looking for her after she didn’t show for a family barbecue and didn’t answer calls
It is alleged that they confronted Micallef there after he had barricaded a door.
Ms Azzopardi’s older brother Shaun broke through the door and found her body.
Micallef, Ms Azzopardi’s boyfriend of two years, was arrested at the scene and taken to hospital where he underwent medical assessments.
Police interviewed Micallef throughout Monday and on Tuesday afternoon charged him with one count of murder.
Ms Azzopardi was described by Shaun 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,’ Mr Azzopardi said.
Joel Micallef (right) has been charged with murder following the discovery of the body of his girlfriend of two years (left)
Cops slapped Micallef with the charge following his arrest on Monday
Police are understood to be investigating the nature of Micallef and Ms Azzopardi’s relationship and living arrangements.
On Monday, detectives were seen carrying items, including a safe, from the Reid Street townhouse, while specialists worked to determine how and when the 35-year-old was killed.
Shaun Azzopardi arrived with family members in the afternoon to collect Ms Azzopardi’s car and belongings.
On Monday, he told reporters he’d tried to contact his sister by phone.
Mr Azzopardi drove his father and brother to the house to look for their sister, but said they found the doors allegedly blocked by chairs.
He described his sister as a ‘kind soul’.
‘You think it’s not going to happen to you, to your sister, your brother, but I’m not going see my sister again.’
The last time he saw his sister alive was 10 days earlier at his son’s 15th birthday, which she arranged at a go-karting venue.
Investigators were seen carrying a safe from the house as detectives continued their work on Tuesday
Detectives worked at the property for two days to investigate Ms Azzopardi’s death
Shaun Azzopardi said the death of his sister ‘doesn’t feel real’ as he tries to stay strong for his distraught family
‘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,’ he 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?’
Mr Azzopardi said ‘it doesn’t feel real. I’m trying to stay strong’.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14