UPDATE: A man allegedly murdered his partner after they had been in court in relation to an intervention order, a court has heard.
Craig McDermott, 38, is charged with murdering his de facto wife of 18 years, Fiona Joy Warzywoda, in a Sunshine shopping strip on Wednesday.
Mr McDermott, of Sunshine North, briefly appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday afternoon.
Ms Warzywoda was in Sunshine Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning over a family violence order in place against Mr McDermott.
The mother of four left her solicitor’s office just three minutes before she was killed, police said on Wednesday.
She was stabbed multiple times in front of lunchtime shoppers in Sunshine’s busy Hampshire Road shopping district.
Passers-by performed CPR but could not save the 33-year-old Melton West woman.
Mr McDermott handed himself in to police on Thursday morning.
Prosecutor Tim Bourbon said police would speak to a number of eyewitnesses and examine a significant amount of CCTV footage.
‘‘The incident occurred in a public place,’’ he told the Melbourne Magistrates Court.
‘‘The CCTV footage covers the lead-up to the incident.’’
The footage may also include Ms Warzywoda’s death, he said.
Magistrate Peter Reardon agreed to allow the media to publish the fact that there was a family violence order, saying it was in the public interest to highlight cases of domestic violence.
‘‘The victim, or the affected family member, had attended Sunshine Magistrates Court,’’ he said.
‘‘Subsequently she was murdered.
‘‘In light of recent events … in these circumstances it is in the public interest and just.’’
Mr McDermott appeared in the dock with his left hand heavily bandaged. He was remanded in custody for a committal mention on August 7.
