Former partner of pregnant mum, Michelle Darragh, pleads guilty to her murder
The former partner of Michelle Darragh has pleaded guilty to murdering her in his Melbourne home while she was pregnant with their third child.
A Melbourne man has pleaded guilty to murdering his pregnant ex-partner after her body was found in the home they used to share in October last year.
Benjamin Coman murdered 32-year-old mother of two Michelle Darragh when she was pregnant with the couple’s third child.
Her lifeless body was found by her father at a Bayswater North home in Melbourne on Sunday October 9, 2021.
Coman, who is now 30, also sustained life-threatening injuries at the time and was rushed to hospital where he received treatment under police guard.
He appeared via video link in Melbourne’s Magistrate Court on Thursday with his hair cut short and dressed in prison greens.
Coman did not speak, aside to enter his plea of guilty for one count of murder.
It is understood the pair had recently separated after five years together and Ms Darragh had returned to the house to collect some belongings on Saturday October 8.
A neighbour told NCA NewsWire at the time Ms Darragh’s father found her the next day, after becoming concerned she had not returned home.
The neighbour said the first he learned of the tragedy was when he wandered outside about 7.30pm and found Ms Darragh’s mum crying and screaming.
Friend of Ms Darragh, Alyssa Roubicek, said her family’s lives had been “torn apart” and her two boys, aged one and three, would be raised by their grandparents.
“Michelle leaves behind many loved ones, but most importantly a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old who will now grow up without the love and support of their devoted mother,” she said.
A GoFundMe established for Ms Darragh’s two surviving children raised over $150,000.
The case has been adjourned for a directions hearing in September.