The grieving family of Melbourne woman Isla Bell say they are devastated after murder and manslaughter charges were dropped against the man accused of killing the 19-year-old and putting her body in a fridge.
Ms Bell’s remains were discovered at a tip in November 2024, about six weeks after she was last seen alive at the house of St Kilda East man Marat Ganiev, 55.
Mr Ganiev was initially charged with murder, before the charge was downgraded to manslaughter when the case reached the Supreme Court.
Marat Ganiev, pictured at a younger age on his social media, will now be charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice. (Facebook)
Today prosecutors said the manslaughter charge would be discontinued and that Mr Ganiev would instead be charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Outside the Supreme Court Ms Bell’s mother Justine Spokes told reporters victims had “no rights” and she had been “led up the garden path”.
“My expectations in our legal system were low, but obviously not low enough,” she said.
“I refuse to close my heart and I speak for truth and justice. I’m not going to be defeated.”
Isla Bell’s mother Justine Spokes addressed media outside the Supreme Court today. (ABC News)
Ms Spokes also paid tribute to her daughter.
“I raised Isla to be full of compassion and care and integrity and strength,” she said.
Ms Bell’s grandfather David Spokes held back tears, saying it was “a very difficult day”.
Charges dropped due to ‘insufficient evidence’
In a statement, the Office of Public Prosecutions said the manslaughter charge against Mr Ganiev was discontinued because there were “no reasonable prospects of conviction due to insufficient evidence”.
On Tuesday, prosecutors also dropped the case against an alleged co-offender, Eyal Yaffe, who was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Eyal Yaffe, who left court in crutches, refused to answer questions from reporters about today’s outcome. (ABC News)
When Mr Ganiev was arrested, police alleged he killed the teenager and put her body in a fridge, which was taken from the property by Mr Yaffe.
Mr Ganiev was accused of moving the fridge around Melbourne’s south-east and left on the side of the street.
The remains of Ms Bell were discovered at a Dandenong rubbish tip on November 20, 2024.
Ms Bell’s disappearance rocked Melbourne’s tight inner-north community and her mother made multiple public appeals for help before the grim discovery was made.
At a committal hearing last year, forensic experts told the court they were unable to determine Ms Bell’s cause of death. Illegal and prescription drugs were found in her system, and her remains were badly damaged by rubbish truck machinery.
Mr Yaffe, now free of all charges, made no comment as he left court on Tuesday.