By Erin Pearson and Hannah Hammoud
A man accused of killing a father of two at a playground in Melbourne’s outer west has faced court, telling a magistrate he needed medication.
Ishtpal Singh appeared in person at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday charged with murdering Anmoral Singh Bajwa, 36 – also known as Anmol – who was found dead in a playground in Mambourin on Tuesday.
Ishtpal Singh faced court on Wednesday charged with murder.
Defence lawyer Michael Haralambous told the court it was his client’s first time in custody.
He also raised concerns over a failure to provide Ishtpal Singh, of Brookfield, with his prescribed antidepressant medication since his arrest.
Singh, 31, who was flanked in court by two security officers, did not speak during the proceedings but was seen nodding to a man and woman seated in the courtroom.
Magistrate Matthew Page remanded him in custody and ordered he be seen by a nurse.
Anmoral Singh Bajwa, a cricket lover and captain of his team, was found dead in a park in Mambourin.Credit: Facebook
Bajwa was found dead in Mambourin, a new estate next to Manor Lakes, about 7.30am on Tuesday.
A crime scene was established at a playground just north of Laa Yulta Primary School, which opened last year. Singh was taken into custody soon after the body was found.
On Tuesday, Bajwa’s family told Nine News he had failed to return home after being picked up from his nearby house on Monday evening.
A cricket lover, Bajwa had moved to Melbourne with his family about 15 years ago.
His brother, Amandeep Bajwa, said the death of the father of two was heartbreaking for his family.
“He was a very lovely person, happy, always smiling, the best brother I have in the world,” he said.
“You imagine [his] six-year-old kid … She doesn’t know. She’s asking us, ‘When is Papa going to come?’ We have no answer.”
Singh is to reappear in court in May.
Bajwa’s death was one of two suspected homicides police were called to investigate on Tuesday.
A body was found after fire crews responded to a grass fire near the old town cemetery on the outskirts of Quambatook, a small farming town on the Avoca River in Victoria’s north-west, about 6.30am.
A police spokesperson said homicide detectives arrested a 67-year-old Quambatook man in the Welshmans Reef area on Wednesday morning as part of that investigation. He will now be interviewed by police.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
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