Marat Ganiev, 53, is accused of killing Ms Bell in an assault
(Web Desk): Marat Ganiev has been charged with the murder of 19-year-old Isla Bell after police alleged her death was caught on CCTV inside a St Kilda East apartment.
Marat Ganiev, 53, is accused of killing Ms Bell in an assault that investigators claim was recorded on cameras in the early hours of October 7.
His co-accused, Eyal Yaffe, 57, faces charges of assisting an offender.
Police claim CCTV footage captured what appeared to be Ms Bell being struck and pushed to the ground in the kitchen of Mr Ganiev’s apartment. A subsequent police brief details “extensive cleaning” by Mr Ganiev, as well as the alleged transportation of a fridge containing Ms Bell’s remains to multiple locations across Melbourne.
Court documents revealed that a neighbour in Hampton reported a foul odour from the fridge, which investigators later linked to Ms Bell. Her remains were recovered at a Dandenong tip.
Mr Ganiev reportedly admitted to transporting the teenager’s remains but denied assaulting her or causing her death. “He stated he did not know how she had died and that he did not assault her,” the police brief said.
Ms Bell was last heard from in a Snapchat message on October 7, claiming she had met a “Russian sugar daddy” who had saved her from “sex traffickers”. The messages stopped abruptly, and she was reported missing days later.
Police arrested Mr Ganiev and Mr Yaffe on Tuesday. Authorities allege Mr Yaffe planned to flee to Bulgaria on Wednesday and has ties to individuals with serious criminal records, including drug trafficking.
Both men appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court, where Mr Ganiev was remanded in custody until March. Mr Yaffe is set to apply for bail on Friday.
Bell’s mother, Justine Spokes, described her daughter as “beloved” and said, “I am so sorry I could not protect you.”
