A 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.
The details of Lolene Whitehand’s death were outlined in Victoria’s Supreme Court today during a pre-sentence hearing.
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.
The body of Lolene Whitehand, 85, was found bound and dumped in the Maribyrnong River. (Supplied: Victoria Police)
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.
“She would have given us her last dollar if she had to,” Kirraly Schumann said.
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.
Prosecutors said Ms Whitehand was last seen alive entering Bogojevska’s home, which was two doors down from her own.
The court heard Bogojevska assaulted Ms Whitehand and packed a tea-towel into her mouth, later stealing her cash and debit card.
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.
That evening, Bogajevska put Ms Whitehand’s 47-kilogram body into her car, drove to the Maribyrnong river, and pushed it into the water.
A fisherman found 85-year-old Lolene Whitehand’s body in the Maribyrnong River next to Flemington Racecourse. (ABC News: Mikaela Ortolan)
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.
Bogajevska’s son’s name was written on the bag, prosecutor Erin Ramsay said.
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.
Bogojevska spent more than $4,000 on items including shoes, lottery tickets, a microwave, iPads and gift cards.
She also tried to steal a trolley with $800 worth of items from Coles, the prosecution said.
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.
While being interviewed by police, she said she was “more than 100 per cent” sure that she was not responsible for the death.
“Oh no no no no no, I’m not a killer,” she said.
Bogojevska was charged with murder and first faced court two years ago, however the charges were downgraded when she pleaded guilty to manslaughter earlier this year.
In court, prosecutors did not explain why the plea deal was struck.
It means the maximum penalty for the unlawful killing is 25 years, instead of a potential life sentence for murder.
According to Victoria’s Sentencing Advisory Council, the recent average jail term for manslaughter was eight years and four months.
For murder, the average was 23 years and four months.
Bogajevska’s defence barrister Amy Brennan said Ms Whitehand’s death was an “unintended consequence” of the assault, which she described as “spontaneous”.
Ms Brennan said her client endured a traumatic upbringing, and now suffered from poor physical and mental health.
“Ms Bogojevska does not pose any significant danger to the community,” Ms Brennan said.
The killer began sobbing loudly when Ms Brennan said she had not been able to speak to her son while in custody.
The hearing continues.
