Marat Ganiev, age 53, is charged with the murder of Isla Bell on October 7, 2024, which occurred three days following her last sighting as she left her home in Brunswick, located in Melbourne’s northern area.

Her remains were found at a rubbish tip in the city’s southeast on November 19.

The day after she vanished, Bell’s remains were found in a rubbish facility in Dandenong, after her family had issued a heartfelt appeal for the missing young woman.

Forensic pathologist Hans de Boer testified in court that, despite conducting an autopsy on Bell, he couldn’t determine her cause of death because the body was significantly decomposed.

He noted the presence of injuries, such as lacerations and fractures, but couldn’t confirm if they were inflicted just before her death, at the point of death, or after the fact.

In response to defense barrister Ian Hill KC’s question on whether all injuries might have been inflicted by the garbage truck’s compactor, Dr. de Boer confirmed: “Absolutely, yes”.

Forensic anthropologist Samantha Rowbotham, who also analysed Bell’s remains, told the court the injuries happened at or near the point of death, but she could not be more specific about timing.

She said she had not been informed Bell’s body was compacted in the rubbish truck before the remains were discovered.

Toxicology reports showed the presence of prescription medication and illicit drugs including MDMA in Bell’s system at the time of her death, the court heard.

The committal hearing will continue tomorrow.