Man charged with murder after Melbourne woman found dead in London flat

The fiance of a Melbourne woman found dead in her London flat has fronted court after being charged with her murder. Friends have remembered 35-year-old Amy Parsons as an “incredible woman”.

Facebook images of Melbourne woman Amy Parsons, who was killed in London.

The fiance of an Australian woman allegedly killed in her east London apartment has appeared in court charged with her murder.

Melbourne expat Amy Parsons, 35, was found dead in her Whitechapel flat despite the desperate attempts of police and ambulance officers who tried to save her.

Her British partner Roderick Deakin-White, 37, faced Thames Magistrates’ Court, East London, on Monday (local time) charged with her murder.

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Graphic designer Mr Deakin-White looked dishevelled in a grey tracksuit as his supportive family watched from the public gallery.

During the brief hearing, he spoke only to confirm his name, birth date, address and nationality.

Judge Alison Rose remanded him in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, during which he can apply for bail.

Amy Parsons has died in London. Picture: Facebook

Amy Parsons was a well-regarded executive assistant. Picture: Facebook

Ms Parsons’ body was found at 1.30pm (4.30am AEST) on Friday after police were called to do a welfare check on the fifth-floor Crowder Street flat, a five-minute walk to the Shadwell station and near hipster haunt Shoreditch.

A witness said that five police cars and an ambulance arrived but officers were delayed up to “five minutes” because they could not open the flat’s secure door.

“It was about five minutes before they were able to. I could hear loud bangs. Bang, bang, bang when they got in,” the witness said.

Mr Deakin-White, a Londoner known as “Rod”, worked for the Royal Opera House and was also regarded as the local handyman.

Friends say the couple had been together since 2010.

News Corp Australia has been told Ms Parsons last visited family and friends in Melbourne in January and was heading back to London where she was planning their wedding.

The Victorian family of Ms Parsons, who was a well-regarded executive assistant in the financial services industry, were too distressed to speak publicly on Monday night.

A cause of death is unknown. A post-mortem is due to take place later this week.

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s Homicide and Major Crime command returned to the flat on Monday.

“She was an incredible woman,” one friend told News Corp. “We are all shocked and rattled. It is an absolute tragedy.”

Another resident said Rod had come to help her with her Wi-Fi and problematic heating.

The woman, who did not wish to be named, said: “The last time I spoke to him was about a month ago.

“I only know the couple to say ‘hello’ to, but Rod helped me a couple of times with my Wi-Fi and heating.”

Two-bedroom apartments in the modern seven-storey Chi building sell for at least £620,000 ($A1.1 million).

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The Melbourne woman reportedly last visited home in January. Picture: Facebook

The grey and orange building can only be accessed with a fob while many of the flats have access to balconies.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was providing consular assistance to Ms Parson’s family.

Ms Parsons is the 41st person alleged to have been murdered in the UK this year as the country’s murder rates reaches the highest number in a decade.

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