Stephen Fleming charged after teacher Annette Brennan’s body found at Epping tip
A 45-year-old man has been charged with murder after the body of a “gentle and kind” English teacher was stuffed in a wheelie bin and taken to a tip in Melbourne’s north.
Police & Courts
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A man has been charged with murder following the discovery of a woman’s body at an Epping tip last week.
Police are still working to determine how “lovely and kind” English teacher Annette Brennan died after the 67-year-old’s body was stuffed in a wheelie bin and taken to the tip.
Detectives on Monday morning arrested Stephen Fleming over the gruesome discovery of Ms Brennan’s body.
Homicide Squad detectives charged Mr Fleming, 45, with murder overnight on Tuesday.
He was remanded to face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Investigators believe the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) online teacher’s body had been stuffed inside a wheelie bin that rubbish collectors emptied on Tuesday last week in Coolaroo, in Melbourne’s north.
Mr Fleming and Ms Brennan are believed to be known to each other.
The Coolaroo man spent Monday and Tuesday being questioned over his alleged involvement in the death, before he being charged overnight.
Simona Croce, who Ms Brennan taught English at a language school on Flinders St in Melbourne’s CBD in 2019, told the Herald Sun she was devastated by the teacher’s death.
“She was an amazing person. She was gentle and kind – it’s such a terrible loss,” Ms Croce said.
“It was really sad news to hear how this happened … that she was found in the bin. Honestly, I was really shocked, she didn’t deserve this.
“Other students that I took the class with are also so upset by her death. It’s really tragic news.
“I will never forget how kind she was to me, she was like a second mum because I was out here by myself from Italy and she was always checking in on me.”
Workers at the Repurpose It green waste facility in Epping discovered Ms Brennan’s body inside a delivery shed last Wednesday.
Police said they continued the search for CCTV vision.
The focus was on tracking down footage captured between Saturday, June 23 and Tuesday, July 2.
Ms Brennan’s neighbours said she had lived alone in a single-storey brick home in Hilgay St for several weeks, but they had at times seen and heard a male inside.
They said she was not known to drive, but they had seen a car driven by a man parked in the driveway.
The home this week remained empty after it became a crime scene at the weekend.
Ms Brennan’s loved ones are not believed to have attended the property this week.
On Saturday, police trawled through its recycling and general waste wheelie bins, dusting them for fingerprints, while forensic specialists probed another house on the same street. Investigators brought in a locksmith to gain access to the home as its owners were overseas.
They were also seen examining grass clippings from one of the homes next door.
Neighbours were devastated to learn of the discovery.
“No human deserves to die like that, she was thrown away like rubbish,” one woman said.
Another resident said: “Someone has died in horrible circumstances and to be dumped like that is just revolting.”
Tip workers who found Ms Brennan’s body have been offered counselling.
“Our staff members who made this tragic discovery are understandably shaken, and we are ensuring they receive the support and counselling they need,” Repurpose It chief executive George Hatzimanolis said on Monday.
The waste facility has been working with investigators as the probe into the death continues.
Contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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