NSW: Man accused of interfering with a corpse
22 Jan 2009 12:23 PM
SYDNEY, Jan 22 AAP - A Sydney man who allegedly entered a woman's unit to steal property but instead found her body has been accused of interfering with the corpse and covering up the scene to avoid any link to him.
Chady Wazir allegedly covered the body of Joyce Germain with clothing, blankets, pillows and other items, before ransacking the unit, closing the curtains and locking the front door.
Wazir, 29, of Punchbowl, appeared in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday, accused of five offences including improperly interfering with a corpse.
Details of the alleged misconduct are not set out in the charge.
American-born Ms Germain, 59, was found in the bathroom of her apartment on Bourke Street, Darlinghurst, by police rescue workers who forced entry after she was reported missing in late April 2006.
After an inquest last year, Deputy NSW Coroner Hugh Dillon could not determine the cause of her death, but described the case as "suspicious and bizarre".
Wazir is charged with entering Ms Germain's unit between April 18 and 21, 2006, with the intent to steal property.
He is also accused of stealing property with a value equal to or less than $15,000, as well as destroying or damaging property.
The fifth charge is perverting the course of justice.
It is alleged that when he established a belief Ms Germain had been murdered, he covered the body with items, ransacked the unit, closed the curtains, locked the front door and failed to call police or ambulance.
Wazir allegedly believed the body would not be found for sometime and would decompose, resulting in the deterioration of any evidence which could link him to the scene.
Chief Magistrate Graeme Henson continued Wazir's bail and adjourned the case to the same court on March 5.
