‘Justice for Isla’: Thousands demand accused man Eyal Yaffe’s bail be revoked

Thousands of people have joined the push for action after a man accused of hiding teen Isla Bell’s body was granted bail.

Thousands of Australians are demanding the man accused of assisting in the disposal of slain Brunswick teen Isla Bell’s body be locked up.

Eyal Yaffe, 57, was controversially released on bail from the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last week while facing serious charges related to his alleged involvement in hiding Ms Bell’s remains inside a fridge for weeks following her violent death.

He is also accused of disposing of her belongings after coming under police scrutiny.

Magistrate Rohan Lawrence released Mr Yaffe back into the community despite police fears Mr Yaffe was a danger to public safety, could interfere with prosecution witnesses or evade authorities either by fleeing the country or assuming a false identity.

Eyal Yaffe being was released on bail. Picture: David Crosling

The decision sparked enormous public backlash, with thousands of men and women across Melbourne and Australia demanding his bail be revoked to keep the community safe.

A petition, signed by more than 2200 people, states “the safety and wellbeing of the community, particularly vulnerable individuals, should be prioritised over the presumption of innocence in cases of extreme violence”.

“Allowing someone accused of such a horrific crime to remain free, even with monitoring, is not only inappropriate but sends the wrong message about the importance of justice and victim rights,” the petition states.

“We call for the legal system to demonstrate unwavering commitment to ensuring that those accused of such grave crimes are held accountable, and that justice is served for Isla Bell and her family.”

Mia McDowall, who signed the petition, wrote: “I’m scared for my safety and that of all Melbourne women and horrified that the justice system allowed him to be bailed in the first place.”

“Women should be allowed to feel safe,” wrote fellow signatory Britt Henderson.

Isla Bell’s body was found dumped in a Dandenong waste centre weeks after her alleged murder.

Eyal Yaffe is facing serious charges related to the hiding of Isla Bell’s body.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has the power to appeal bail decisions.

The DPP and Magistrates Court of Victoria were contacted for comment on Sunday.

Mr Yaffe was released on bail to live with his son in Brighton East under strict 24/7 monitoring via an ankle bracelet.

Mr Lawrence made the decision after weighing evidence put to him by both the prosecution and defence.

He found the prosecution failed to establish that Mr Yaffe posed a threat to another person and that the case against him hinged on CCTV, police interviews and phone records, rather than witnesses who could be interfered with.

Mr Lawrence acknowledged the accused posed “some level of flight risk” but believed the risk could be mitigated under tight bail conditions.

The day after his arrest Mr Yaffe was scheduled to fly to Bulgaria – a country with no Australian extradition treaty.

His associate, Marat Ganiev, is accused of murdering Ms Bell inside his St Kilda East apartment in the early hours of October 7, days after meeting the teen.

Marat Ganiev, 53, of St Kilda is charged with murdering Isla Bell.

It’s alleged Mr Yaffe helped the accused killer conceal her body inside a plastic-wrapped fridge which was transported across several Melbourne suburbs before her remains were unknowingly dumped in a bin.

Investigators tracked her remains to a Dandenong waste facility before arresting both men.

They’d been under police scrutiny and surveillance for weeks prior to their arrest.