A woman accused of murdering an 85-year-old woman who was found in a Melbourne river can now be identified after a suppression order was lifted.
Milena Bogojevska, 49, appeared via video link in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday, almost a week after being charged with the murder of Lolene Whitehand.
The 85-year-old man’s body was found floating in the Maribyrnong River at Flemington on July 14.
Police allege that Bogojevska knew Mrs Whitehand.
A 15-year-old boy was also arrested, but was released without charge.
The court was closed during Bogojevska’s first appearance on Wednesday, as her lawyers successfully attempted to suppress her name and any other identifying information.
But that suppression was lifted on Tuesday afternoon during another closed-door hearing.
After the court reopened, Magistrate Stephen Ballek gave prosecutors 12 weeks to gather information on evidence against the 49-year-old, including CCTV footage and forensic material.
Milena Bogojevska accused of murdering an elderly widow
The body of Lolene Whitehand was found dumped in Melbourne’s Maribyrnong River last weekend
Bogojevska sat half-hunched in a chair as she watched the proceedings from the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre women’s prison.
The magistrate noted that Bogojevska required steroid injections in custody due to ongoing nerve damage in her lower back.
He also needed the medications Lexapro and Valium for the depression and anxiety he had been diagnosed with, Ballek said.
He ordered Bogojevska to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates Court in November for a committal hearing.
She did not apply for bail.
Earlier on Tuesday, Bogojevska pleaded guilty to separate charges of burglary and arson for two incidents that occurred in July and August 2023.
The widow’s body was found in the Maribyrnong River at Flemington. Pictured here are police at the scene.
She admitted stealing a woman’s handbag containing items worth $8,000 from a car in West Footscray.
He also set fire to another person’s car, which also caused damage to a nearby cell tower.
Bogojevski was found guilty and sentenced to seven days in jail for the 2023 incidents.
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