Tears for ‘gentle soul’ Nikkita, found dead by loving family in South Morang home

The partner of South Morang accountant Nikkita Azzopardi remains under police guard in hospital after being charged with the murder of the “gentle soul”.

Police at a Reid St property after a woman's body was found. Picture: Fergus Ellis

The partner of slain accountant Nikkita Azzopardi remains under police guard in hospital after being charged with her murder.

Ms Azzopardi was found dead by family members at her Reid St home on Monday morning after family members became alarmed at being unable to contact her.

Joel Micallef had been her partner for the past two years.

Mr Micallef, 33, of South Morang, was excused from attending his administrative hearing in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday after his lawyer sought for the matter to be heard in his absence.

“He’s an inpatient in custody,” defence lawyer Clare Morris said.

“It’s his first time in custody — he’s being treated in hospital for health complications.”

No details about the alleged killing were aired in court.

Only future dates were set down, with the case to return on March 5.

No family or friends of Ms Azzopardi were in court.

The hearing came after Mr Micallef faced an after-hours court session from his hospital bed on Tuesday night, and had the case adjourned to Wednesday.

Nikkita Azzopardi, 35, was found dead in a South Morang home.

Nikkita Azzopardi and Joel Micallef. Source: Supplied

Ms Azzopardi’s heartbroken brother has told of how the family feared for her safety and broke in ­before allegedly witnessing a horrifying scene that he now could not get out of his head.

Shaun Azzopardi, 40, described his sister as a “gentle soul” who was a kind and caring person and never had a bad word to say about anyone.

He said he and other relatives went to Nikkita’s Reid St house on Monday morning after she had failed to arrive at a family barbecue on Sunday as planned.

They had been unable to reach her on the phone, or by knocking on her door.

Shaun said Nikkita had last spoken to her family on Saturday, but no one had been able to get in touch with her since.

The Herald Sun understands she lived between the South Morang home with Mr Micallef and another one with housemates in Thornbury.

“This morning I felt that something wasn’t right, I called her and she wasn’t ­answering,” Shaun said on Monday.

When the family arrived at her house on Monday morning, they smashed a pane of glass to enter, he said.

He claimed Nikkita’s partner, Mr Micallef, was inside the house at the time.

Shaun also claimed when they asked where Nikkita was, Mr Micallef told them she was “sleeping”.

Ms Azzopardi was an accountant and loved by her family.

Joel Micallef. Source: Facebook

Family members, including Shaun and father Edward then searched the house and allegedly found doors barricaded with chairs.

“I went upstairs and went through the door and I saw my sister … I can’t get that image out of my head,” he said.

Shaun said his sister’s death felt like a bad dream.

“It doesn’t feel real,” he said. “I’m trying to stay strong.”

Speaking while visibly emotional, Nikkita’s father ­Edward, 65, claimed he saw his daughter covered in blood on the floor of her home.

Nikkita’s father said he had feared for his daughter’s safety before her body was discovered.

Shaun Azzopardi outside the South Morang home where his sister was found dead. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Police at the scene of Reid Street in South Morang. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

He said he called police early on Monday morning, ­requesting a welfare check on his daughter after driving to her house late on Sunday and finding the lights on but the front door locked, and nobody answering when he knocked.

Shaun said the last time he saw his sister alive was at his son’s 15th birthday party earlier this month.

He said his sister was a hardworking accountant who had played a big role in his life.

Nikkita’s former partner and childhood friend Ash Jenson, 35, told the Herald Sun she adored her family.

“Family was everything for her … she always wanted to make her mum so happy,” Mr Jenson said.

He said she loved reading and enjoyed good coffee, then broke down, saying: “I feel like I lost a piece of me.”

Police at the scene. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Police cordoned off a large section of Reid St in South Morang.

Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Family members were seen sobbing and embracing each other on Monday afternoon.

A neighbour of the Reid St, property where Ms Azzopardi’s body was found said a ­detective was brought to tears by the scene.

Tony Naggiar, 66, said the distressed police officer needed comforting.

“He was crying … other police officers went around him and hugged him,” Mr Naggiar said.

“He couldn’t stop crying.”