By Cassandra Morgan and Alexander Darling
The family of a man murdered in Melbourne’s north say they are shocked and devastated to have lost their son.
Police found the remains of Sunbury man Joshua Bishop at a Westmeadows home on Sunday. Court documents reveal that they believe he was murdered a month before this discovery.
Joshua Bishop was reported missing in May.Credit: Victoria Police
Bishop was last seen by his housemate at his home in Lalor Crescent, Sunbury, on May 27. The 23-year-old’s mother, Kristie, reported him missing on May 29, and his disappearance prompted a community effort to find him.
Speaking for the first time since confirmation that their son had died, his father Travis couldn’t hold back his tears and his anger.
“It’s not fair. We can’t sleep at night.
“I just want justice, I want justice for our son, our baby boy. This is Australia, the lucky country, we’ve had our son taken from us.”
Travis and Kristie Bishop speak after the body of their son, Joshua, was found. Credit: Nine News
Police arrested Westmeadows man Brandon Watts, 27, on Sunday evening, charging him with murdering 23-year-old Bishop.
Watts appeared before Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday. He did not apply for bail and is next due in court on September 22.
Court documents alleged Watts murdered Bishop at Westmeadows between May 27 and May 28.
Nine News reported on Monday night that Bishop’s remains were kept at the Westmeadows property for the whole month between his alleged murder and the remains being found.
Police did not comment on whether Watts was arrested at the same address that the remains were found, nor whether he lived there.
On Monday night, Bishop’s mother Kristie said she did not know if Bishop had known Watts.
Kristie said her family had been overwhelmed by the support they had received since her son went missing.
“Our family, our friends, our community has been absolutely amazing, they knock on the door every day with food,” she said.
“We cannot be more thankful.”
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