A Melbourne carpenter has been revealed as the man accused of murdering a mother in front of her children.
Police say Vicky Van Aken, 51, was trying to protect a teenage boy before she was attacked on her doorstep.
The mother, who is also a daughter and a sister, was killed in her own home in Bayswater in the city’s east in front of three boys.
Two were her sons and the other was a 17-year-old who lived next door.
Police claim he was seeking refuge at the Cousin Drive house when his father arrived with a knife.
It’s alleged Vicky was attacked first, and stabbed multiple times before the children were chased and the 17-year-old sustained wounds to his hand.
The 47-year-old accused killer returned home where he was arrested and taken to hospital under police guard.
Milorad Zaric – also known as Mick – appeared in court charged with murder this morning.
Dressed in a white forensic suit he clenched his chest and sighed but didn’t say a word.
The court was told the carpenter is withdrawing from drugs and alcohol and he’s never been in custody.
Vicky’s sons and other shattered family members returned to the home this afternoon to collect some belongings.
At the same time, relatives of the accused killer were just a few metres away repairing damage inside his home.
Homicide detectives returned to the property around 3pm.
They maintain there were no known issues between the neighbours and it is not believed they were in a relationship of any type.
Mr Zaric returns to court in February.
