A West Footscray woman has confessed to killing her 85-year-old neighbour, dumping her body in a river and using stolen cash to pay off a $30 cigarette debt.
Without a clear motive or show of remorse, Milena Bogojevska has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her elderly neighbour.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: West Footscray woman admits killing elderly neighbour
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“It shouldn’t be manslaughter, it should be murder. It wasn’t an accident,” neighbour Kirraly Shumann said.
Lolene Whitehand was last seen walking into the accused’s Glamis Road home. Inside, she was assaulted, gagged with a towel and wrapped in plastic.
The next day, the 85-year-old’s body was dumped in the Maribyrnong River.
Lolene Whitehead was found dead in the Maribyrnong River. Credit: 7NEWS
The 85-year-old was killed by her neighbour. Credit: 7NEWS
The 51-year-old killer then burgled her home, stealing cash, wallets and jewellery, even loading the victim’s debit card onto her own phone.
She spent thousands of dollars online shopping, paid off a $30 debt for cigarettes and used a laundromat to clean up the evidence.
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But the victim’s blood was found in her car.
Milena Bogojevska has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Credit: 7NEWS
Forensics at the scene. Credit: 7NEWS
She told a detective the victim was “a really nice lady”. And when asked if she did it: “No, I can guarantee you with my own life. I’m not a killer.”
Whitehand’s son, Gary O’Brian, wrote a statement saying: “I have trouble sleeping because I keep picturing my mother in the river.”
But he would never deliver it in court as he died just two days ago.
Her neighbours were there in his place.
“We think about her every day,” Shumann said.
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