The loved ones of a mother who was tragically murdered after refusing to reconcile with her estranged partner faced the man in court, expressing that she was "too good for him."
In an emotional testimony at the Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia, on Friday, Elaine Pandilovski was remembered as a loving and compassionate person who never spoke ill of others.
Her best friend, Carol, fought back tears as she shared how haunted she was by imagining her friend's last moments and the fear she must have experienced.
She described Elaine as a beautiful person, emphasizing that her family did not deserve to remember her in such a tragic way.
The 44-year-old mother was strangled to death on July 14, 2020, at her home in Mill Park, located in Melbourne's northeast, by her long-term partner, Zoran Pandilovski, aged 48.
Pandilovski had initially been scheduled to stand trial in April but unexpectedly pleaded guilty to the murder just minutes before the trial was set to begin when his offer of a plea deal for a lesser charge of manslaughter was rejected by prosecutors.
The court heard that the couple had been childhood sweethearts, having started dating in high school and getting married in 2002.
However, approximately 20 months before the murder, Pandilovski had been ejected from their family home due to incidents of domestic violence.
Despite this, they maintained contact mainly concerning their young son. In early 2020, Pandilovski expressed his desire to reconcile with his wife, but Mrs. Pandilovski did not share the same sentiment.
On the morning of the murder, at around 7:45 am, Pandilovski was captured on CCTV arriving at the family home under the pretense of picking up their son's iPad for repairs.
He left approximately two hours later and was later involved in a high-speed car crash on Melbourne's Western Ring Rd.
The alarm was raised when Mrs. Pandilovski failed to arrive at the school where she worked as a teacher's aide.
Her mother, who had received a concerned phone call from a colleague, went to the family home around 3:10 pm but was unable to locate her daughter.
Police were called, and after 9 pm that same night, her remains were discovered concealed in a storage room in the basement.
Pandilovski was taken into custody the following day after being released from the hospital.
Disturbing photos of his wife's body were found on his phone. Prosecutor Neil Hutton informed the court that Mrs. Pandilovski died from neck compression during an attack that lasted "tens of seconds or potentially longer" in the lounge room.
Hutton described it as a slow and deliberate act, allowing the person time to reflect on their actions.
After committing the murder, Pandilovski moved her body to the basement in an attempt to conceal the crime.
In court, Pandilovski's lawyer, David Hallows SC, acknowledged that the devastating consequences experienced by Mrs. Pandilovski's loved ones were solely attributable to his client.
He argued that Pandilovski had not planned the murder but had lost control during their argument when he went to pick up the iPad.
Hallows explained that his client moved the body to prevent their son from discovering it upon his return home, although he admitted the reason for taking photos of the body was inexplicable and should not be considered a "trophy photo."
Hallows conceded that the history of domestic violence, which had worsened prior to Pandilovski's expulsion from the family home, made it difficult to argue that the crime was unexpected.
The court was informed that Pandilovski had sought counseling, including anger management sessions, following the breakdown of their marriage, demonstrating his commitment to self-improvement and improving his relationship with Elaine Pandilovski.
Justice Christopher Beale will deliver the sentencing on August 11, considering all the evidence and arguments presented during the trial.
The sentencing will mark the culmination of a painful and harrowing journey for the family and friends of Elaine Pandilovski, who have endured the loss of a cherished loved one and grappled with the profound impact of domestic violence.
Source - New York Post
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