They looked like the picture of a perfect marriage. Now one is in the morgue and the other may face life behind bars, accused of killing her after a family Christmas gathering.
John Beres, 63, posted the photo of him and his wife Yvonne on social media in 2017.
A friend noticed how pretty the photo of the couple was.
On Thursday, a more disturbing picture of the couple emerged when Beres was charged with his wife’s murder.
A photograph captured by news crews outside his home in Langwarrin, in Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs, showed him being led away in handcuffs by police.
Dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, he should have been cleaning up after what everyone said had been a nice Christmas get-together with the couple’s three children.
The alleged killer appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court for a brief hearing on Thursday night, hours after calling triple zero to report an “assault” on his 59-year-old wife.
The court heard that Beres, who is being detained for the first time, was vulnerable due to his age and health.
John Beres, 63, posted this photo of him and his wife Yvonne on social media in 2017.
He suffered from type 2 diabetes and needed regular medication for knee and back problems. The age reported.
He spoke to confirm that he took painkillers daily to deal with pain resulting from two back operations, in 2020 and 2021.
“It’s a regular dose that I take every day,” he told the court.
His wife had been managing director of a local real estate consultant.
Emergency services were called to the Wood Duck Court home at around 6.30am on Thursday after receiving the call from Beres.
The officers were unable to save Mrs. Beres, who was allegedly found with stab wounds inside the house.
Police arrested Beres at the scene and later charged him with one count of murder.
It is understood the couple had recently moved to the neighborhood from nearby Mount Eliza.
Victoria Police Homicide Team Detective Inspector Dean Thomas told reporters the couple had just hosted their family for a Christmas Day gathering hours before the incident.
Police take John Beres out of his house in handcuffs
Wood Duck Court became crime scene amid murder allegations
He said the couple’s three adult children had been devastated by the alleged murder after being among those celebrating Christmas at the property.
“The family of the (alleged) victim has been spoken to and they are obviously extremely upset that we are here on Boxing Day,” he said.
“They are very, very upset and distressed.
“There are several family members we need to remember who are affected by this and there will be several friends as well.”
The interactions between those who attended the meeting will be central to the investigation.
Police confirmed there was no history of domestic violence between the couple.
Forensic teams found a gun inside the home, but the detective could not confirm what was used to kill Ms. Beres.
Mrs. Beres had been managing director of a local real estate consultant.
It is not yet known if Beres called police immediately after his wife’s death or if the alleged altercation occurred some time before police and paramedics arrived.
Neighbors described Ms Beres as a lovely woman who enjoyed gardening and walking her adopted greyhound.
“For something like this to happen on this quiet little street is really shocking, especially at this time of year,” neighbor Martine Casagrande told The Age.
“It’s hard to believe something like this happened.”
Casagrande, whose property is behind the Beres family home, said the couple had been celebrating with friends in their backyard earlier this week and seemed to be in good spirits.
“There was laughter and chatting and everything seemed very normal before Christmas… a nice, pleasant feeling,” he said.
‘They always say hello and talk when they pass. “There have been no riots of any kind, it has been very peaceful, you wouldn’t imagine anything like this would happen.”
Anyone with dashcam footage, CCTV or information is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.