Police charge Zlatko Sikorsky, 34, with murder and misconduct with a corpse
AUTHORITIES have confirmed Zlatko Sikorsky was in a relationship with 16-year-old Brisbane teen Larissa Beilby, and say the 34-year-old murder accused is not co-operating with police.
Crime & Justice
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ZLATKO Sikorsky has been charged with the murder of 16-year-old Larissa Beilby hours after he surrendered to police.
Sikorsky, of Shailer Park, is in custody in Maroochydore after a Sunshine Coast siege lasting more than 24 hours ended without incident last night.
This morning, the 34-year-old was charged with murder and misconduct with a corpse.
A 40-year-old Palmwoods woman has also been charged with assisting Sikorsky in getting to the Sunshine Coast unit complex.
She has been charged with one count of accessory after the fact to murder and appeared in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court yesterday.
She was remanded in custody to reappear in that same court on July 2.
A 38-year-old Alexandra Headland man has also been charged with one count of accessory after the fact to murder and is due to appear in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 2.
At a press conference held today, Detective Superintendent Mark White and Homicide Unit Detective Inspector Damien Hansen said the investigation had been complex and involved more than 100 police.
Police confirmed Sikorsky was in a “relationship” with the teenager he is accused of killing.
They said Sikorsky was not co-operating with police.
“What we can state today is that at this point, three persons have been charged in relation to that investigation,” Det Supt White said.
“Two with accessory after the fact and one person has been charged with murder and interfering with a corpse.
“As the prosecution process has commenced, we will not be providing any further information or details in relation to those persons as the matter is now before the court.”
Det Supt White said the body located in the barrel had been formally identified as 16-year-old Larissa Beilby.
“The process for that formal identification has taken some time and we only found out late yesterday. Larissa’s family have been advised and our thoughts and condolences go out to Larissa’s family and friends.
“As you can imagine, this has been a very upsetting and traumatic time for them and we will be providing ongoing support for the family as there is still some way to go with the prosecution and our investigation.”
He said many police had worked tirelessly on the investigation.
“Their commitment to the task has been commendable,” Det Supt White said.
“We probably had in excess of 100 police working on this investigation from the start.
“To put it in perspective, there has been a lot of moving parts in this investigation machine and just over 72 hours of commencing this investigation, we had a male person in custody.”
Police are still searching for the silver Commodore Sikorsky fled in.
Det Insp Hansen said police were still appealing for information from members of the public about the location of the Commodore but also about Sikorsky’s relationship with Larissa.
“Information is still vital to the investigation,” he said.
“We are building a ... brief of evidence. I will say it’s a unique set of facts, certainly in my time at homicide.
“Any further information that could be provided to us, I would encourage anyone to contact Crime Stoppers. His movements, his connection to Larissa. We are interested in hearing from any person.”
Det Insp Hansen said they would charge anyone they believed had aided Sikorsky during the period in which they were searching for him.
“They will be charged with their criminality if something comes to light,” he said.
This morning, acting Detective Superintendent Mark White said police had been working around the clock.
“Our thoughts are very much with Miss Beilby’s family as they come to terms with and mourn her death,” he said.
“We would like to thank the public for their assistance and co-operation throughout the early stages of this investigation.
“I would also like to acknowledge the commitment of our officers who have worked tirelessly throughout the week.”
OVERNIGHT
A 27-HOUR standoff between heavily armed police and Zlatko Sikorsky, the man wanted for questioning over the body-in-the-barrel killing, ended peacefully last night when he surrendered.
Sikorsky, 34, was pulled from a unit on Juan St at Alexandra Headland about 6.30pm.
He was driven into Maroochydore watchhouse about 8pm for questioning over the death of 16-year-old Sandgate girl Larissa Beilby.
Flanked by police, he looked dishevelled after the long siege and tried to hide from the media by covering his face with his hands.
“It was important to give our negotiators the time and space to help us resolve this peacefully – and I am relieved that we have been able to take this man into custody without him, any member of the public or any of our officers being hurt,” Superintendent Darryl Johnson said.
“I want to thank the people of Alexandra Headland – particularly those living within our exclusion zone – for their patience and assistance during the last 24 hours. It is very much appreciated.”
Police last night confirmed the remains found inside a barrel on the back of a black ute south of Brisbane on Wednesday were Larissa.
Larissa’s sister Deanna took to Facebook last night to acknowledge her death.
“With a broken heart shattered into more than a million pieces our family is utterly destroyed to inform you all that Larissa has been taken from us,” she wrote.
“Our beautiful girl has been reunited with our beloved wife and mother. Fly high our darling angel, until we see you again Rissy.”
The Craigslea State High School student – who had been dating Sikorsky – was last seen leaving transitional accommodation in Sandgate on June 15.
She had been reported missing by her father, Peter Beilby, a day before her body was found in the back of the ute. Mr Beilby yesterday took to Facebook to express his grief.
A 40-year-old Palmwoods woman was charged with being an accessory to Larissa’s murder after she allegedly brought Sikorsky to the Sunshine Coast.
The woman faced the Maroochydore Magistrates Court yesterday and was remanded to appear in court again tomorrow, a police spokesman said.
The resident of the unit where Sikorsky remained for more than a day revealed he unknowingly let the suspect into his home.
The man, who wanted to be known only as Joe, said a long-time friend called him on Friday afternoon and asked if he and Sikorsky could come over.
Police were alerted when a property manager recognised Sikorsky from the news.
“I was completely in shock, I had no idea,” Joe said.
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