The motive behind the alleged murder of an elderly widow by a single mother remains unknown after the victim’s body was found in a Melbourne river.
A court order has banned reporting of any connection between Lolene Whitehand, 85, and the woman accused of killing her.
Reporters were ejected from the courtroom while the reasons for the gag order were discussed, and a ban was then imposed on identifying or photographing the alleged killer.
Ms Whitehand, 85, from West Footscray, was found floating in the Maribyrnong River, near Smithfield Road in Flemington in Melbourne’s west, on Sunday.
The widow was found with plastic bags tied around her head and parts of her legs and was badly bruised.
Mrs Whitehand was reported missing by her family on July 12, prompting concerned local residents and police to search for her.
When a fisherman found her body two days later, neighbours suspected it might be Mrs Whitehand. At first, however, that possibility seemed unlikely, as the body was found 6km from her home.
“That would be too far for her. She is fiercely independent, a real sweetheart – but only small,” a friend posted before Ms Whitehand’s identity was confirmed.
“It’s just been too long since she went missing.”
The body of Lolene Whitehand (pictured) was found floating in the Maribyrnong River at approximately 10.30am on Sunday
On Tuesday, police arrested a 49-year-old woman, who is not related to Ms Whitehand, and charged her with the elderly woman’s murder.
A 15-year-old boy was also questioned by police but later released without charge.
The alleged perpetrator appeared in Melbourne District Court on Wednesday charged with one count of murder, confirming Ms Whitehand’s grim fate.
Magistrate Stephen Ballek warned the media not to publish the name or photo of the accused woman, an interim order of suppression that can only be challenged by media organizations next Tuesday.
Police have not yet released details of why or how they believe Ms Whitehead was murdered.
“It’s all incomprehensible,” one neighbor posted on social media. “I can’t understand it.”
Neighbours and supporters continue to leave flowers at Mrs Whitehand’s home on Glamis Road, who is described as ‘a jewel in the Footscray community’.
“She lived nearby and was always in her garden, greeting my baby and me on our walks,” a neighbor wrote in an online tribute.
“She was such a nice woman and I just can’t believe that someone could do this.”
Others remember Mrs. Whitehand going to the local clothes shop for a chat or to get a haircut with her sister.
The alleged killer of Ms Whitehand, a 49-year-old woman from Footscray West, appeared in Melbourne District Court on Wednesday
Mrs Whitehand is said to have lived alone in her single-storey home after her husband John died about ten years ago, and that she once cared for her sister, who lived in nearby Yarraville.
“The community of Lolene is mourning the woman who was an icon of their neighborhood,” said another woman.
‘She was known for her kindness and cheerfulness. She cared for her sister and her husband before he died a few years ago.
“There are no words to describe the anger and sadness over Lolene’s death.”
On Wednesday afternoon, detectives searched Ms Whitehand’s home, while uniformed officers went door to door interviewing residents on the street.
Reporters were removed from the courtroom as the reasons for withholding the identity of Mrs Whitehand’s alleged killer were discussed.
The defendant’s attorney, Sharon Healey, successfully asked the court to keep her client’s identity confidential.
Mrs Whitehand’s neighbours were shocked by her reportedly violent death and remembered her love of gardening
The woman did not speak during the hearing, but was clearly limping as she was taken back to jail.
The court heard she suffered from lower back pain, for which she takes panadeine forte and steroid injections.
She also takes medication for depression and anxiety.
Detectives continue to appeal for anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage from the areas around Glamis Rd in West Footscray or Smithfield Rd in Flemington, near Lynchs’ Bridge between 12pm on July 12 and 10.30am on July 14, to come forward.
“The police would also like to get in touch with people who observed suspicious activities in those areas during that period,” the statement said.
Detectives are also investigating the discovery of the body of a 20-year-old Colombian man, found floating in the same river just 90 minutes earlier.
Police have confirmed that the man’s death is unrelated to Ms Whitehand’s death and that the man is not being treated as a suspect.
Anyone with information regarding these incidents is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.