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Girlfriend of man accused of killing Geelong mum charged with perjury

THE girlfriend of a man accused of the brutal killing of a Geelong mother has been charged in connection to the alleged murder.

Ms Galea died of multiple stab wounds after stopping in at a unit on her way home from work Picture: Supplied
Ms Galea died of multiple stab wounds after stopping in at a unit on her way home from work Picture: Supplied

THE girlfriend of a man accused of the brutal killing of a Geelong mother has been charged in connection to the alleged murder.

Monique Stones, 21, was arrested early this morning, seven months after she was first spoken to by police over the suspected murder of a mother-of-two at Corio last June.

Police will allege Ms Stones lied to cover up the circumstances of the death of Raichele Galea.

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Ms Galea, 44, died of multiple stab wounds after stopping in at a unit on her way home from work the night of June 30.

Her family told the Herald Sun they did not know why she had gone to the Matthews Rd property instead of driving home to Waurn Ponds.

Monique Stones leaves Geelong Police Station. Picture: Mark Stewart
Monique Stones leaves Geelong Police Station. Picture: Mark Stewart

Police will allege Travis Wills stabbed Ms Galea to death and attempted to rob her inside the Corio flat which is home to his relative.

Mr Wills and Ms Stones, who recently became parents with the birth of a baby boy, are facing lengthy jail time as the Homicide Squad seeks justice for the victim and answers for a distraught family.

Detectives believed early on in their investigation that five people as well as Ms Galea were inside the unit the night she died.

But they told the Herald Sun last year their probe was being hampered by the “vastly” different versions of events told to them by the people they had interviewed.

The major breakthroughs in the case this week have been welcomed by Ms Galea’s grieving relatives who said they were desperate to understand why the life of the mother and recycling plant worker with a“heart of gold” was cut short.

Raichele Galea was described as a “magnificent soul”. Picture: Supplied
Raichele Galea was described as a “magnificent soul”. Picture: Supplied
Anthony Santuccione holding a photo of Ms Galea. Picture: Mike Dugdale
Anthony Santuccione holding a photo of Ms Galea. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Loved ones of the “magnificent” woman told the Herald Sun they were hopeful there would be justice.

“Whatever is to come, at least we are starting to get some closure,” her partner, Anthony Santuccione, said.

“We hope justice prevails.

“It’s coming up to seven months since she was murdered — as painful as it has been hopefully the outcome is worth going through the pain of waiting (for the police investigation).”

Both Mr Wills and Ms Stones, from Norlane, have been charged with perjury.

On top of murder accusations, Mr Wills was also charged with attempted armed robbery.

Ms Stones crossed her arms and pulled her jumper hood around her face as she remained silent in the face of media questions outside the Geelong police station today.

She was bailed by police and is due to reappear at Geelong Magistrates Court on April 30.

andrea.hamblin@news.com.au

@AndieHamblin

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/man-tried-to-rob-geelong-mum-before-stabbing-death-police-to-allege/news-story/10010c0d4a850333bd88f96b82e32c5c