Katia Pyliotis has been found guilty by a Supreme Court of Victoria for a murder she committed back in 18 September 2015, following a legal saga that lasted for more than a year after she first faced trial.
The woman, a former McDonald’s worker, bludgeoned a 69-year-old man to death with a Virgin Mary statue and a tin of mangoes in his Kew East home over 13 years ago.
Elia Abdelmessih, a widower and loner, was found with his head submerged in a bowl of water after a concerned neighbour called police.
The then 23-year-old Pyliotis, met the victim at the Kew McDonald’s where he would dine regularly during the week.
Although the motive still remains unclear, Mr Abdelmessih had a reputation round Kew Junction for making inappropriate advances to women after his wife’s death and reportedly paying a woman with an acquired brain injury $20 for sexual services.
Police had found deposits of blood and DNA on a number of items in the house including on one of the murder weapons, the metal tin which was dented from the blows.
A statuesque, a vase, two wrenches and a ceramic ornament were also found near the body.
Mr Abdelmessih’s murder has remained a mystery up until 2016, when while living in South Australia Pyliotis was asked to provide DNA with a saliva swab over a minor matter.
Her DNA was matched with DNA at the crime scene, and she was extradited back to Victoria, AAP reports.
Pyliotis will face court again on 28 February 2019 for a plea hearing ahead of final sentencing.