Steve Constantinou has been charge with the grizzly murder of Johanna Martin, a 65-year-old Melbourne prostitute who called herself Jazzy-O.
Constantinou was present in court while forensics experts told the court of the findings on her cause of death. The veteran sex worker was found dead in Port Melbourne in October 11 last year, strangled and beaten. Well known in the local sex industry, she was also a grandmother, widow and self-made millionaire.
Forensic pathologist Dr Paul Bedford told the court Ms Martin died as a result of strangulation or choking. There were no apparent injuries or marking to the fingernails or fingertips of the accused, and no direct evidence that Ms Martin tried to struggle against choking, leading to the suggestion that the victim was choked from behind.
Constatinou was also charged with stealing jewellery worth $33,000 belonging to Ms Martin. The accused has not applied for bail and was remanded in custody, with Magistrate Hugh Radford ordering his committal hearing resume on September 18.
