The man originally charged with Isla Bell’s murder and manslaughter has lost his bid to have a charge thrown out.
Isla’s body was found at a tip in November of 2024, six weeks after she was last seen alive at the house of Marat Ganiev.
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He was charged with murder, then manslaughter but the prosecution dropped that charge and filed an attempting to pervert the course of justice offence over the dumping of Isla’s body.
Ganiev applied for a permanent stay on his case.
His barrister Sally Flynn told the Supreme Court the changes to the prosecution case were an abuse of process.
Today, Justice James Elliott said he prosecution was entitled to pursue a fresh charge on a different aspect of the case and refused the application.
“This process is just so gruelling, my heart aches,” Isla’s mum Justine Spokes told media this morning.
A date for Ganiev’s trial has not yet been announced.
Please follow the Isla Bell’s Legacy pages on Instagram and Facebook and visit islabell.com.au to support Justine in her fight for justice.
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