Borce Ristevski’s two children to give evidence in murder case
BOTH of accused wife killer Borce Ristevski’s children will be called to give evidence in the case against him. An autopsy on Karen Ristevski’s body returned an inconclusive finding, a court has heard.
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BOTH children of accused wife killer Borce Ristevski are set to give evidence in the case against him.
Lawyers for Mr Ristevski, charged with murdering his wife, Karen, will also call a pathologist to the stand to be quizzed on the “inconclusive” autopsy finding into her death.
The latest revelations in the high-profile murder case were revealed as the 54-year-old father of two faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
The court heard Mr Ristevski’s estranged son, Anthony Rickard, would be among 29 witnesses to be cross-examined at a preliminary hearing in July to determine if he will face a Supreme Court trial.
It comes after the Herald Sun revealed his daughter, Sarah Ristevski, would also be a prosecution witness.
Magistrate Sue Cameron said both children would need to be told their rights, in particular if they might incriminate themselves.
“There are some references to drug use,” she said, referring to Mr Rickard’s statement.
Mr Ristevski’s lawyer, Sam Norton, said he also wanted to cross-examine a pathologist on the inconclusive findings of the autopsy report.
He said there was an “odd” issue with the hyoid bone in Ms Ristevski’s throat.
“We want to ask questions about what potential findings could be made for a body decomposed for that time ... whether indications of trauma could be relevant,” he said.
Ms Ristevski, 47, disappeared from the family’s Avondale Heights home in June 2016. Eight months later, her body was found in a shallow grave in the Macedon Ranges.
Police have never revealed how they allege Ms Ristevski was killed.
Other witnesses to be called include a worker who cleared tree limbs near where her body was found a month before the discovery; and shopkeepers at a family-run business who claim they served Mr Ristevski. Some witnesses, Mr Norton said, relate to timing and the disposal of the body.
A “large number” of police involved in the case will also be called, the court heard.
Mr Norton withdrew an application to stop media publishing details of the case.
Mr Ristevski, wearing a white, pressed, collared shirt, sat quietly in the dock throughout the hearing.
He said “thank you, Your Honour” when she remanded him to reappear for the two-week preliminary hearing on July 16
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