Woman charged after body found with multiple stab wounds inside Melbourne home

A woman charged with the murder of a 78-year-old woman found dead inside a home is “not well enough” to appear in court.

A woman charged with the murder of an elderly woman in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs on Tuesday is “not well enough” to appear in court.

Ringwood resident Christine Herzel was too unwell to face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, according to her defence.

The 47-year-old was arrested on Tuesday after police found an elderly woman dead inside a home in Blackburn South.

Police conducted a welfare check at the Holroyd Court home shortly after 11am on Tuesday and found the deceased 78-year-old woman with several stab wounds.

Victoria Police said the two women were known to one another.

A woman has been charged with murder after a woman was found with stab wounds in Melbourne. Picture: Google Maps

Defence lawyer Andrew Vincent told the court that Ms Herzel was on Tuesday transported to Box Hill Hospital, where an initial assessment deemed her “unfit” for interview.

The defence said Ms Herzel had a “treatment-resistant form of schizophrenia”.

Magistrate Vincenzo Caltabiano said he would not be in a position to remand Ms Herzel for more than eight days “in the absence of her appearance and the absence of instructions”.

After temporarily standing the matter down, Mr Caltabiano requested Ms Herzel be “brought in” to court.

Mr Vincent, however, told the court that Ms Herzel was in no state to do that, and he was unsure if her condition would improve in custody.

Christine Herzel was too ‘unwell’ to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. Picture: NewsWire / Penny Stephens

“Ms Herzel presented as particularly unwell and is vulnerable,” he said.

“(Ms Herzel) was unable to provide instructions.”

Mr Vincent suggested his client’s mental health could be “better assessed in another correctional facility”.

Mr Caltabiano remanded Ms Herzel to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

“In the circumstances, I think the only reasonable course is for the matter to be adjourned for a short period of time,” he said.