The boyfriend of a woman whose body was found by her family during a welfare check will appear in court after being charged with murder.
Nikkita Azzopardi, 35, was found dead on Monday inside a South Morang home in Melbourne’s northeast after her father and brothers were unable to contact her.
Her two brothers and father drove to the house after she didn’t show up to a family barbecue the night before.
There they allegedly confronted defendant Joel Micallef, 33, who had blocked a door.
Shaun, Azzopardi’s older brother, burst through the door and found her body.
Micallef, Azzopardi’s boyfriend of two years, was arrested at the time and taken to hospital where he underwent medical evaluations.
Police have been interviewing Micallef and on Tuesday afternoon charged him with one count of murder at his bedside.
He was remanded in custody and will appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Shaun described Ms. Azzopardi as a gentle soul who would help anyone.
“He would do anything for anyone…he didn’t see the bad in people and he always saw the good,” Azzopardi said.
Azzopardi’s family went looking for her after she didn’t show up to a family barbecue and didn’t respond to calls.
Joel Micallef (right) has been charged with murder following the discovery of the body of his two-year-old girlfriend (left)
Police slapped Micallef with the charge following his arrest on Monday and hospital tests.
Police are investigating the nature of Micallef and Azzopardi’s relationship and living conditions, and the Reid Street residence was bustling with detectives Tuesday.
Detectives were seen removing items, including a safe, from the house, as specialists worked to determine how and when the 35-year-old was murdered.
Shaun Azzopardi arrived with family members in the afternoon to collect Mrs. Azzopardi’s car and belongings.
On Monday, Shaun Azzopardi told reporters that he had tried to contact his sister by phone.
Micallef allegedly told them that Mrs. Azzopardi was not feeling well and was sleeping.
Azzopardi took his father and brother to the house to look for his sister, but said they found the doors allegedly blocked by chairs.
‘He (allegedly) blocked the doors with chairs, but I went upstairs, walked in the door and saw my sister. “I can’t get that image out of my head,” he said.
He said his sister was a “kind soul.”
“You think it won’t happen to you, your sister, your brother, but I won’t see my sister again.”
The last time she saw her sister alive was at her son’s 15th birthday, 10 days earlier, which she hosted at a go-karting venue.
Investigators were seen removing a safe from the home as detectives continued their work Tuesday.
Detectives have been working at the property for two days to investigate Azzopardi’s death.
Shaun Azzopardi said his sister’s death “doesn’t seem real” as he tries to stay strong for his distraught family.
“In hindsight, if you knew it was the last time, you would be doing more, you would be asking more, you would be taking pictures,” he said.
“I don’t know my father’s status, my mother’s status, my brother’s status. How do you get over this, how do you get over it?”
Azzopardi said “it doesn’t seem real.” I’m trying to stay strong.’
On Monday, Victoria Police Acting Senior Sergeant Shaun O’Connell said investigations into the living conditions of Ms Azzopardi and the accused continued into the evening.
“They both spent time in this house but in relation to their living conditions, investigations are still ongoing,” Sgt O’Connell said.
Acting Police Sergeant Shaun O’Connell confirmed the accused was not previously known to police.
‘The exact nature of their relationship is still under investigation.
“What I can confirm is that the parties know each other and that we are not looking for anyone else in relation to this incident.”
Police confirmed that Micallef was not previously known.
At least 70 Australian women and 14 children reportedly died as a result of murder, manslaughter or neglect in 2024, according to the Red Heart Campaign, which tracks and commemorates deaths across the country.
Police respond to reports of family violence every five minutes in Victoria, totaling more than 98,000 incidents in the 12 months to June, according to crime statistics.
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