Joel Micallef accused of murdering his Melbourne accountant girlfriend Nikkita Azzopardi fails to front court after being charged with murder

The boyfriend of a woman whose body was found by her family during a benefits check has failed to appear in court after being charged with murder.

Nikkita Azzopardi, 35, was found dead in a home in South Morang in Melbourne’s northeast on Monday after her father and brothers were unable to contact her.

On Wednesday, her alleged killer Joel Micallef, 33, was due to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court for a brief hearing.

But the court heard Micallef could not appear because he was in hospital.

It remains unclear why the alleged killer was hospitalized. His lawyer told the court her client was suffering from ‘health complications’.

A brief of evidence collected by police against Micallef will be presented to the court on January 22, with the alleged killer expected to appear in court in March.

No information was broadcast in court about how detectives filed their case against Micallef. The court ruled that Micallef’s stay in prison was the first in his life.

His alleged victim was found by her two brothers and father after driving to their house when she failed to show up at a family barbecue the night before.

It is alleged that they confronted Micallef there after he 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 examinations.

Police interviewed Micallef throughout Monday and charged him with one count of murder Tuesday afternoon.

Mrs Azzopardi was described by Shaun as a gentle soul who would help anyone.

“She will do anything for anyone… she didn’t see the bad in people and always saw the good,” Azzopardi said.

Joel Micallef (right) has been charged with murder following the discovery of the body of his girlfriend of two years (left)

Police hit Micallef with the charges on Monday after his arrest

Police would investigate the nature of the relationship and living arrangements of Micallef and Ms Azzopardi.

On Monday, detectives were seen carrying items, including a safe, from the townhouse in Reid Street as specialists tried to establish how and when the 35-year-old was killed.

Shaun Azzopardi arrived in the afternoon with family members to collect Ms Azzopardi’s car and belongings.

On Monday, he told reporters that he had tried to contact his sister by phone.

Mr Azzopardi drove his father and brother to the house to look for their sister, but said the doors were reportedly blocked by chairs.

He described his sister as a “kind soul.”

“You think it won’t happen to you, your sister, your brother, but I’m not going to see my sister again.”

The last time he saw his sister alive was ten days earlier, on his son’s 15th birthday, which she arranged at a karting venue.

Investigators were seen carrying a safe from the home as detectives continued their work Tuesday

Detectives worked at the property for two days to investigate Ms Azzopardi’s death

Shaun Azzopardi said his sister’s death ‘doesn’t feel real’ as he tries to stay strong for his distraught family

“In retrospect, if you knew this was the last time, you would do more, ask more, take pictures,” he said.

“I don’t know my father’s condition, my mother’s condition, my brother’s condition – how do you get past this, how do you get through it?”

Mr Azzopardi said: ‘It doesn’t feel real. I’m trying to stay strong.”

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