Marat Ganiev, Eyal Yaffe to face committal hearing in October over death of Isla Bell, 19

Two men are facing serious charges over the death of a teenager, whose body was found stuffed in a fridge. Now, a court has provided a major update on their case.

The family of slain teenager Isla Bell were present as the pair charged over her death returned to court.

Ms Bell, 19, was killed and her remains hidden in a fridge, with police making the grim discovery at a waste management centre in Dandenong on November 19, 2024.

Marat Ganiev and Eyal Yaffe’s case was briefly mentioned at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday.

Mr Ganiev, 53, is charged with the murder of the 19-year-old, and Mr Yaffe, 57, is charged with assisting an offender after the fact.

The remains of Isla Bell, 19, were found inside a fridge at a waste management centre in Dandenong in November 2024. Picture: Supplied

Police allege Marat Ganiev murdered Ms Bell at his apartment a month before her body was found. Picture: Supplied

Police allege the teenager met Mr Ganiev on October 5, 2024 and began staying at his apartment in St Kilda East.

She is alleged to have texted a friend that she had met the “best Russian sugar daddy” and he was “lavishing her with gifts”.

According to police allegations in court documents, CCTV captures a fight at Mr Ganiev’s apartment on October 7, followed by extensive cleaning over the following days.

Mr Yaffe is alleged to have arrived at the apartment on October 9, towing a black fridge on a trailer which is then swapped out eight days later with a fridge wrapped in plastic and black tape.

Police allege the fridge contained Ms Bell’s remains and was moved across several locations in Melbourne’s southeast over the following month.

Eyal Yaffe is charged with assisting an offender after the fact. He is on bail. Picture: NewsWire/David Crosling

On Friday, Mr Ganiev was aided by a Russian interpreter as he appeared over audiovisual link.

Mr Yaffe is on bail and remotely dialled into the courtroom.

The court was told four witnesses – including three experts and the informant – were due to give evidence at committal proceedings for Mr Ganiev.

Magistrate Michelle Mykytowycz said the witnesses should be present for the hearing in court, noting one expert was a forensic anthropologist who authored a report.

She said possible lines of questioning could take the anthropologist to diagrams in her report.

Ms Bell was living with Mr Ganiev at his apartment in St Kilda East when she was allegedly murdered. Picture: Supplied

‘Quite confronting’

“It would be better if it is conducted in court,” Ms Mykytowycz said.

Ms Mykytowycz said she was “conscious” of the nature of the questions which would be asked at committal proceedings while Ms Bell’s family were present.

“Some of the cross-examination might be quite confronting in the circumstances,” she said.

“So I do want the family members to be prepared for that if they’re going to attend the proceedings.”

Ms Mykytowycz told Mr Ganiev she was satisfied the prosecution’s case had been adequately disclosed and the requested cross-examination of witnesses was not “trivial or vexatious”.

The court was told three expert and two police witnesses would be required for cross-examination in Mr Yaffe’s case.

Both men will face a four-day committal hearing from October 6.

Mr Ganiev remains in custody on remand while Mr Yaffe’s bail was continued by Ms Mykytowycz.

Originally published as Marat Ganiev, Eyal Yaffe to face committal hearing in October over death of Isla Bell, 19