Robert Mantini, 58, charged with murder of missing Craigieburn man Adrian Romeo

Adrian Romeo was murdered the very same day he was last seen by his parents, when he told them he was visiting friends five months ago, a court heard.

Adrian Romeo was last seen by his family on February 10. Picture: Supplied

Police say missing man Adrian Romeo was murdered the very same day he was last seen by his parents, when he told them he was visiting friends five months ago.

Anxiety sufferer Robert Mantini, 58, has been charged with murder and faced a short court hearing on Friday afternoon.

Court documents reveal that he’s been accused of killing Mr Romeo in Greenvale on February 10, 2024.

On that day, the missing man had told his parents he was going to Greenvale to visit some friends.

Mr Mantini, from Wallan, sat with his arms crossed in the dock at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court as his high profile defence lawyer, barrister Dermot Dann KC, asked for his client to be seen by a custody nurse.

Robert Mantini, 58, was charged with murder over the disappearance of Adrian Romeo.

“Mr Mantini has previously suffered from anxiety, from which he’s been medicated,” Mr Dann said, noting he was currently without his medication.

Magistrate Brett Sonnet told Mr Mantini, “If you don’t feel well put your hand up and politely ask to see the custody nurse”.

Prosecutors were given 12 weeks to submit their brief of evidence — double the usual time permitted — which Mr Mantini’s lawyers took no issue with.

He was remanded in custody and ordered to return to court on December 13.

Police, with the help of the special operations group, arrested Martini in Wallan about 7.20pm on Thursday night before he was interviewed by detectives.

Mr Romeo’s body is yet to be located and the search for him is ongoing.

Police searched a property at Greenvale on Thursday. Picture: Diego Fedele

Detectives on Thursday searched a run-down property on Brendan Rd in Greenvale hours before arresting the man.

The huge response saw several agencies band together to trawl the brick home and overgrown property while SES crews scoured an area along Brodies Creek.

It is still unclear what pieces of evidence were seized from the property but it is understood they are likely to have assisted in the charge of murder.

“There was always something going on at Brendan Rd,” one old neighbour remarked.

That followed a large-scale search at another northern suburbs property earlier in the week, where another man was charged with a string of firearms offences.