Pathologist unable to determine how Brunswick teen Isla Bell died

A pathologist has not been able to establish how Brunswick teen Isla Bell died after her body was found sealed in a fridge and dumped at a tip last year.

A pathologist has been unable to determine how Isla Bell died, after her body was found sealed in a fridge and dumped at a tip last year.

A pathologist has been unable to determine how missing Brunswick teen Isla Bell died after her body was found sealed in a fridge dumped at a Melbourne recycling centre last year, a court has heard.

The 19-year-old’s remains contained multiple drugs – including methylamphetamine, cocaine, methadone and cannabis – which could not be ruled out as contributing factors, the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday.

The details were revealed as Eyal Yaffe, who was accused of helping dispose of Ms Bell’s body, unsuccessfully applied to have his court-mandated GPS ankle bracelet removed, arguing it was causing skin irritation and financial strain.

The 19-year-old’s remains contained multiple drugs.

His barrister Ian Hill KC said Mr Yaffe had less than $10,000 in savings, but was paying $1500 a month for the device and he was willing to report to a police station daily.

Mr Hill argued the case against his client was weak, saying pathologists had been unable to determine Ms Bell’s cause of death and forensic experts could not find his DNA or fingerprints in the fridge or the wrapping.

But magistrate Rohan Lawrence refused to vary his bail conditions, noting he remained a flight risk.

Marat Ganiev has been accused of murdering Ms Bell on October 7 last year at his St Kilda East apartment, while Mr Yaffe has been charged with assisting an offender after the fact.

Mr Yaffe, who is on bail, will return to court in September.

Mr Ganiev, who is in custody, will face court later this week.