A man has been charged with one count of murder in relation to a death near Jung in Victoria's Western District on Monday morning.
The elderly man, believed to be about 80 but not yet formally identified, was discovered with serious injuries about 9.15am on Monday. Emergency services responded to reports of a man's body found off the Henty Highway near Finlayson Road at about 9.15am.
The recovery of the body triggered an intensive investigation. Police arrested a 49-year-old man on Monday night after reports an armed man was behaving erratically on Firebrace Street in Horsham. Officers negotiated with the armed man before he was arrested around 11pm and taken to hospital. The 49-year-old Minyip man was transported to the hospital and was expected to be interviewed by Homicide Squad detectives at a later stage.
Following those interviews, the man was charged with one count of murder in relation to the man's death.
When the accused appeared before Horsham Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning for a brief filing hearing, the scope of the investigation became clear. The prosecutor described the case as complex as she sought more time for police to provide the brief of evidence to the defence. She said there were multiple crime scenes across a large geographical area, with several items seized and multiple phones needed to be assessed.
The violence alleged appears severe. The alleged victim also sustained 24 injuries in the incident, the prosecutor said.
The accused's lawyer Gemma Ross-McGlynn opposed the longer 12-week time frame, saying it was in her client's interests to have the material as soon as possible. She instead sought the ordinary six-week period but magistrate Timothy Hoare gave prosecutors eight weeks to provide the brief of evidence to the accused.
The accused was remanded to return to Horsham Magistrates Court for a committal mention hearing in July. He did not apply for bail.
Victoria Police asked the community for assistance. Anyone who witnessed the incident, has dashcam or CCTV footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.