Man accused of helping dispose of Isla Bell’s body allowed to move home

A man who allegedly helped cover up for Isla Bell’s accused killer by getting rid of the Melbourne teenager’s body has had his bail conditions varied to move to a different address.

A man who allegedly helped Isla Bell’s accused killer dispose of the missing Melbourne teenager’s body has had his bail conditions varied so he can move homes.

Police allege Ms Bell, 19, was killed by Marat Ganiev, 53, inside his St Kilda East apartment on October 7 before he enlisted his friend, Eyal Yaffe, 57, to help cover up the murder.

Ms Bell’s remains were found at a Dandenong waste depot on November 19 — about seven weeks after she was last seen leaving her Brunswick home.

Police allege Isla Bell was killed by Marat Ganiev inside his St Kilda East apartment.

That same day, Mr Ganiev was charged with murder and Mr Yaffe with assisting an offender.

On Wednesday, both men appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court via video link — Mr Ganiev from custody and Mr Yaffe, who is on bail, from a residential address.

Mr Yaffe’s barrister, Ian Hill KC, said his client was unable to attend court in-person because he had influenza.

Family members of Ms Bell, including her father and cousin, were seated in court for the brief hearing.

Eyal Yaffe was granted a bail variation. Picture: David Crosling

Mr Yaffe was granted a bail variation, which was not opposed by prosecutors, allowing him to change his home address and the police station where he must report to Caulfield.

He was previously bailed to live with his 28-year-old son in Brighton East who offered a $20,000 surety and employment for his father at his painting business.

Eyas Yaffe is accused of helping Marat Ganiev in the alleged murder of Isla Bell.

Strict bail conditions were also imposed, including a curfew, that he surrender his passport, report to police three times a week and he wear and fund an electronic monitoring device which would alert authorities if he went near the addresses of potential witnesses.

Police allege Ms Bell was bashed to death inside Mr Ganiev’s apartment.

Police allege Ms Bell was bashed to death inside Mr Ganiev’s apartment.

Mr Yaffe allegedly assisted his friend by helping him remove her body inside a fridge which was stored at various Melbourne addresses before her remains were dumped in the rubbish by an unwitting resident.

The men will return to court in June.

Originally published as Man accused of helping dispose of Isla Bell’s body allowed to move home