The man accused of killing his girlfriend allegedly killed her up to 48 hours before her family found him next to her lifeless body in their home.
Nikkita Azzopardi, 35, was found stabbed to death at the South Morang home in Melbourne’s northeast on Monday after relatives were unable to contact her.
Joel Micallef, 33, is accused of murdering Ms Azzopardi between Saturday and Monday before her father and brothers broke down the door of their home to gain entry.
They would have been confronted with the gruesome sight of Micallef with her bloodied body.
Micallef was due to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday for a brief hearing but was unable to attend as he is in hospital suffering from “health complications”.
A lone bouquet of flowers lay outside the couple’s home in Reid Street, where Micallef is accused of killing his partner.
Neighbors told Daily Mail Australia they had no idea Micallef had even lived in the property.
“We never saw him,” said a neighbor. “We had no idea he even lived there.”
Neighbors described Ms. Azzopardi as a friendly neighbor who always stopped by to say hello.
Joel Micallef (right) has been charged with murder following the discovery of the body of his girlfriend of two years (left)
Located in a block of units, residents of the complex claimed they were unaware of any domestic problems within the household.
“Apparently the house was in his name, but I never saw him,” said a neighbor.
‘Which I find strange, because he must have just been hibernating there. I don’t know, but I would see her. I waved at her about a week ago.”
Neighbors said they heard no noise from the home between Saturday and the discovery of her body on Monday.
‘I didn’t hear anything. Nothing,” said a neighbor. “She never said anything to anyone.”
It is understood Ms Azzopardi’s loved ones were confronted with a devastating scene as they entered the house past a barricade.
“Apparently it was pretty bad,” a neighbor said. “Her brother came in and it was quite messy… it’s quite shocking. I didn’t expect it at all.
‘The body was there [up to] two days.’
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.
Micallef is accused of murdering Ms Azzopardi sometime between Saturday and Monday, when her body was found.
No information was broadcast in court about how detectives filed their case against Micallef. The court heard Micallef’s expected stint in prison will be his first experience behind bars.
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.
A lone bouquet of flowers was placed outside Ms Azzopardi’s home in South Morang on Wednesday
Ms Azzopardi’s family came looking for her after she failed to show up for a family barbecue and did not answer calls
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.
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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