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<\/p>\nA woman bashed and stuffed a tea towel into the mouth of a beloved elderly neighbour, before dumping the victim’s body in a river and going on an online shopping spree, a Melbourne court has heard.<\/p>\n
The details of Lolene Whitehand’s death were outlined in Victoria’s Supreme Court today during a pre-sentence hearing.<\/p>\n
Ms Whitehand’s neighbour, Milena Bogojevska, was initially charged with murder, but struck a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.<\/p>\n
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The body of Lolene Whitehand, 85, was found bound and dumped in the Maribyrnong River. (Supplied: Victoria Police)<\/p>\n
In court, another neighbour broke down in tears, describing Ms Whitehand, 85, as a much-loved grandmother figure to residents of Glamis Road in West Footscray.<\/p>\n
“She would have given us her last dollar if she had to,” Kirraly Schumann said.<\/p>\n
Bogojevska, 51, sat with her arms crossed in the court dock as her lawyer conceded she had shown no remorse for the killing on July 12, 2024.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors said Ms Whitehand was last seen alive entering Bogojevska’s home, which was two doors down from her own.<\/p>\n
The court heard Bogojevska assaulted Ms Whitehand and packed a tea-towel into her mouth, later stealing her cash and debit card.<\/p>\n
The deadly attack occurred while Bogojevska’s 15-year-old son was in a nearby room, but prosecutors said he was unaware of the violence because he was playing computer games and wearing headphones.<\/p>\n
That evening, Bogajevska put Ms Whitehand’s 47-kilogram body into her car, drove to the Maribyrnong river, and pushed it into the water.<\/p>\n
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A fisherman found 85-year-old Lolene Whitehand’s body in the Maribyrnong River next to Flemington Racecourse. (ABC News: Mikaela Ortolan)<\/p>\n
A local fisherman made the grim discovery two days later, finding Ms Whitehand’s body partially wrapped in plastic and a bag over her head.<\/p>\n
Bogajevska’s son’s name was written on the bag, prosecutor Erin Ramsay said.<\/p>\n
As neighbours grew concerned for Ms Whitehand and police began investigating her disappearance, Bogojevska began spending the victim’s money that she stole from her home.<\/p>\n
Bogojevska spent more than $4,000 on items including shoes, lottery tickets, a microwave, iPads and gift cards.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She also tried to steal a trolley with $800 worth of items from Coles, the prosecution said.<\/p>\n
Within days, Bogojevska was arrested for murder after being captured on CCTV and when some of Ms Whitehand’s belongings were found in her home.<\/p>\n
While being interviewed by police, she said she was “more than 100 per cent” sure that she was not responsible for the death.<\/p>\n
“Oh no no no no no, I’m not a killer,” she said.<\/p>\n