Woman charged with murder after toddler found dead in Albanvale

A woman has won a gag order that prevents her being named after the shock death of a toddler in Albanvale.

A young woman accused of murdering a little boy has won a gag order in court that prevents her identity from being disclosed to the public.

The woman, 31, was in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court for a short filing hearing on Tuesday, where her lawyer claimed that naming her client could cause “undue distress or embarrassment to a witness in this case” in which family violence was involved.

After hearing the application in closed court, Magistrate Brett Sonnett granted the pseudonym order that prevented both the woman and her victim’s name from being disclosed publicly.

“It is something I rarely do grant but in the circumstances of this case it’s necessary,” His Honour said.

Mr Sonnett did not explain the basis behind granting the order, only that it was in the interests of justice.

A toy dog was left as a tribute at the property. Picture: Tony Gough

The woman, wearing a long sleeved black top and her hair pulled back in a low ponytail, sat in the dock looking forward during the short hearing.

Asked if she understood that she was being remanded in custody until her next court appearance, which would be on video link, she quietly replied, “Yep”.

Earlier, the court heard she didn’t wish to come up from the cells for the hearing because “the nature of the charges are extremely distressing”.

But Mr Sonnett refused to hear applications in her absence, and called for her to be brought up.

The woman will return to court for a committal mention on May 15.

The charge follows the discovery of a three-year-old boy’s body at a Dover St property in Albanvale on Monday about 4pm.

Police at the scene in Albanvale. Picture: Ian Currie

Residents were seen placing toy tributes at the single storey home on Tuesday morning.

One message left on the foot of a blue toy dog read “RIP little man”.

Shocked neighbours told the Herald Sun the young boy would often play with the other children in their front yards.

Alfred Thintuep, who lives next door, said his daughters enjoyed spending time with the toddler outside.

“He was a really nice boy,” he said.

“The son had long hair… my daughters really liked to play with him.

“The boy really liked to play with my kids.

“They seemed like a really nice family.”

Mr Thintuep said the family had recently moved from New Zealand and would ask him for advice on settling in Australia.

Forensic officers take photos of the property. Picture: Ian Currie

He said he didn’t know how he was going to tell his two young girls about the boy’s death.

“I was shocked… I’m really sad if my daughters ask,” he said.

“I was really shocked to hear, I didn’t really know what happened.

“He was a friendly boy.”

Another neighbour, Mele Taliauli, said she was in disbelief when she heard the toddler had tragically died.

“I couldn’t stop the tears … couldn’t sleep last night,” she said.

“They looked nice.”

Ms Taliauli said the woman would ask her for advice about Centrelink as they were new to the country.

A woman, who lives five houses away and wished not to be named, said she was devastated.

“As I was taking my kids to boxing, we had to stop as the lady was being escorted by police,” she said.

“She didn’t have one bit of emotion on her face, that’s the most haunting part for me.”

The neighbour said the toddler was an “extremely happy little boy”.

“The little boy used to wave at my children and say hello as they walked past,” she said.

“It’s a very sad morning … yesterday we were in shock but today, is just really, really sad.”