Sex act may have killed prostitute Johanna 'Jazzy O' Martin

A SEX act gone wrong may have caused the strangulation death of Melbourne prostitute 'Jazzy O', a court has heard.

Jazzy O, aka Johanna Martin, was found dead in Port Melbourne in 2011. Picture: File

A SEX act gone wrong may have caused the strangulation death of a Melbourne prostitute, a court has heard. The body of sex industry worker Johanna "Jazzy O" Martin was found in a Port Melbourne street in October 2011.

Steve Constantinou, 49, is accused of murdering Ms Martin, an escort who was also known as Honi, and is facing trial in the Victorian Supreme Court.

Prosecutor Mark Rochford SC told jurors Constantinou killed Ms Martin after borrowing money from her.

He then sold her jewellery at a Footscray pawn broker, before disposing of her body.

Mr Rochford said Constantinou told lies to police about his involvement in the matter, including that Ms Martin died from self strangulation.

Constantinou's barrister Shane Tyrrell said jurors may find Ms Martin's death was the result of a sex act gone wrong.

He did not dispute that Constantinou was with Ms Martin when she died.

"Is this an intentional cold blooded murder for the sake of some $8500 or is this some innocent act gone wrong," Mr Tyrrell said. The trial before Justice Phillip Priest is continuing.

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