Tragic update after teen’s body was discovered at a Melbourne tip – as Isla Bell’s broken family share details of their ‘paralysing grief’
Human remains found at a landfill have been confirmed to be those of Isla Bell, as the family of the suspected murdered teenager share details of their ‘crippling grief’.
The family of the 19-year-old, who was allegedly murdered last month, joined thousands of people in Melbourne’s Family Violence Walk on Friday.
Isla’s uncle, Kieran Dionysus, choked back tears as he read out a statement from her mother, who said she was “shocked” by the alleged details of her daughter’s death.
“My grief is paralyzing and I cannot function,” her statement read.
“We live in a world where women’s suffering is the cross they must bear.
“A society that tells them they are strong and must keep torturing themselves to be worthy of even the slightest praise.”
It comes as the man accused of assisting Ms Bells’ alleged killer returned to the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday after spending three days in custody.
Eyal Yaffe, 57, is charged with accessory after the fact (murder) – in connection with his alleged actions to help Ms Bell’s accused killer, Marat Ganiev, cover up her alleged murder.
Human remains found at a waste management facility on Tuesday have been confirmed as belonging to Melbourne teenager Isla Bell (pictured)
Justine Spokes, Isla Bell’s mother, says she is crippled by ‘paralyzing grief’ over her death
Eyal Yaffe (pictured) returned to the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court again on Friday to apply for bail after spending three days in custody following his arrest earlier this week
The 19-year-old’s body was discovered at a waste management facility in Dandenong, in Melbourne’s south-east, on Tuesday morning.
Ganiev, Yaffe and another man were later arrested before the third man was released without charge.
Police allege Ms Bell was murdered at Ganiev’s St Kilda East apartment just before 1am on October 7, after staying there for the previous two nights.
Her last known contact was reportedly with a friend via Snapchat shortly after midnight that evening.
Court documents revealed that Ms Bell told her boyfriend she had found the “best Russian sugar daddy” and that he “showered her with gifts”.
According to a police report, CCTV allegedly captured her for the last time at 9.27pm on October 5 and she was ‘never seen again’.
The CCTV footage reportedly captured a struggle, with Ms Bell seen falling to the ground after being hit.
Police allege that Ganiev was recorded cleaning the apartment over the next few days before Yaffe arrived on October 9 with a new black refrigerator on a trailer.
Police have alleged that Ms Bell was murdered at Marat Ganiev’s St Kilda East apartment just before 1am on October 7 (Photo Marat Ganiev)
Pictured are participants at Melbourne’s Family Violence Walk on Friday
The refrigerator was reportedly carried to Ganiev’s apartment by both men and eight days later the old refrigerator was removed, wrapped in plastic and black tape.
Police allege Ms Bell’s remains were in the fridge.
Over the following days, the trailer is said to have been moved to various locations around Melbourne.
One person later told police it had a “foul smell” and attracted flies.
Police allege the fridge containing Ms Bell’s body was dumped by both men in a driveway in Caulfield South on October 17.
Yaffe is said to have met police and was interviewed on October 28, but he denied knowing what happened to Ms Bell.
He allegedly stated that he had delivered a new refrigerator and helped Ganiev dump the old one at a pickup.
Police allege he was photographed later the same day meeting Ganiev and placing a bag, believed to belong to Ms Bell because of its distinctive brown and black pattern, in a rubbish bin of his car.
It is alleged that Ganiev hid the refrigerator in a Hino moving van on October 30, which a resident allegedly located and opened on November 18.
A bag fell out and the man thought it contained animal remains, which he disposed of in a trash can, police allege.
According to the summary, Ganiev allegedly claimed he did not kill Ms Bell, but used the refrigerator to transport her remains after she died at his home.
The summary alleges that Yaffe told police he helped deliver a new refrigerator to Ganiev and helped him dump the old one on a pickup truck 1,000 feet from his home without knowing its contents.
The hearing continues.