Police officer 'smelled rotten flesh'

POLICE investigating Vonne McGlynn's disappearance smelled rotting flesh while searching suspect Angelika Gavare 's home, a court has heard.

POLICE investigating Vonne McGlynn's disappearance smelled rotting flesh while searching suspect Angelika Gavare 's home, a court has heard.

Yesterday, Constable Andrew Watt told the Supreme Court he was investigating the December 2008 disappearance of Vonne McGlynn.

He and other officers interviewed Gavare because she had tried to use the pensioner's bank card to withdraw cash.

Constable Watt said he searched the backyard of Gavare's Christie Downs home. "I noticed there was a particular smell in the shed, and I would describe it as rotting flesh," he said.

"I had a very thorough search of the shed (but) nothing else could be found."

Gavare, 35, of Christie Downs, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms McGlynn, 82, on or about December 3, 2008.

Prosecutors have alleged she used her car to transport Ms McGlynn's body away from her Reynella home.

Officers seized dozens of personal items, belonging to Ms McGlynn, from Gavare.

They included two investment statements showing Ms McGlynn had assets worth more than $14,000.

In a police video interview shown to the court, Gavare appears pleasant but confused. Told they are investigating a suspected identity theft, Gavare replies: "Fraud? I don't understand." She tells police Ms McGlynn had asked her to renovate the Reynella house.

Police say Ms McGlynn must trust Gavare given she could "empty out her bank account".

"No, I would not do that," she replies.

Constable Watt said his discovery in the shed prompted a search of Gavare's car.

"The boot had been meticulously cleaned, like it had been vacuumed," he said. "The only things in it were some white powder, like talc or deodorising powder, and a couple of small bars of soap like you'd get in a hotel."

Prosecutors have alleged she used her car to transport Ms McGlynn's body away from the pensioner's Reynella home.

Gavare allegedly dismembered the corpse, then used a child's pusher to dump pieces in a suburban creek near her house.

Ms McGlynn's head and hands have never been recovered.

The trial, before Justice Trish Kelly, continues.