When Karen Ristevski first went missing last year and a reporter asked husband Borce if he was the one who killed her, their only daughter Sarah burst into tears.
Seven months later when Karen’s decomposed body was found hidden in bushland, Sarah clutched a framed photo of her mum and led the procession at the funeral.
In the 18 months since, the fiercely loyal 22-year-old has stood by her father, refusing to even entertain the thought he played any part in the murder of her mother.
Just two months ago it was revealed that she had stopped co-operating with police because she felt they were pressuring her into turning against her father.
But on Wednesday morning, the man who once held her in his arms and wiped away her tears was charged with the murder of her beloved mother.
Sarah Ristevski (left) has stood by her father Borce (right) for 18 months. She burst into tears when a reporter asked her father if he had killed Karen Ristevski last year
The 22-year-old clutched a framed photograph of her mother and led the procession at the funeral when her decomposed body was found earlier this year
On Wednesday, Borce (centre) was charged with the murder of his wife Karen (left) Ristevski. The news will no doubt be a bitter pill to swallow for their loyal only daughter Sarah (right)
The horrifying news will no doubt be a bitter pill to swallow for the young woman.
Sarah and Karen were said to be best friends with a ‘special’ bond.
‘She was very dedicated to Sarah,’ Mrs Ristevski’s brother Stephen Williams told 9 News last year.
Borce Ristevski, the husband of slain Melbourne mother Karen Ristevski, appeared before a court for the first time on Wednesday after being charged with her murder.
Detectives from the Victoria Police Missing Persons Squad arrested the Avondale Heights father-of-one, 53, about 7.20am on Wednesday.
Hours later, Mr Ristevski’s lawyer Rob Stary told a court his client would be fighting the charge.
‘He will be pleading not guilty,’ Mr Stary told magistrate Angela Bolger.
Sarah and Karen (pictured together) were said to be best friends with a ‘special’ bond
‘She was very dedicated to Sarah (pictured),’ Mrs Ristevski’s brother Stephen Williams said
Loyal till the end? Sarah (pictured being comforted by her father after a reporter asked him if he killed Karen) reportedly stopped talking to police earlier this year in solidarity
Mr Ristevski’s wife, 47, who ran the fashion retailer Bella Bleu, went missing from her Oakley Drive home on the morning of June 29, 2016.
A bushwalker discovered her body wedged between two logs in Mt Macedon National Park on February 20.
Prosecutor Andrew Tinney SC said police needed extra time to complete their brief of evidence ‘because of the nature of the investigation and the ongoing work that needs to be done.’
Mr Stary said his client had already been under investigation for a number of months: ‘This man doesn’t have any history and we want the matter expedited’.
Appearing calm in a white T-shirt, Mr Ristevski did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody.He will front court again in April for a committal mention.
The businessman has long been considered a suspect in his wife’s disappearance – with Mr Stary conceding in February he was the ‘number one’ person of interest.
But Mr Ristevski has vehemently denied any involvement in Karen’s death.
He was a pallbearer at his wife’s funeral in March.
Close family friends had long insisted they were ’95 per cent certain’ Borce had nothing to do with the killing.
Just two months ago it was revealed that Sarah (right) had stopped co-operating with police because she felt they were pressuring her into turning against her father (left)
Emotional scenes: Sarah led the procession at her mother’s funeral, while her father was a pallbearer. He is now accused of murdering the woman
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.