A 51-year-old woman, Milena Bogojevska, has been permitted to admit guilt to a charge of manslaughter after placing a tea towel in the mouth of an 85-year-old woman and discarding her body in a river. The deceased, Lolene Whitehand, was discovered floating in the Maribyrnong River in Melbourne, Australia by a fisherman on July 14, 2024.
During a pre-sentence hearing in the Supreme Court of Victoria on Thursday, June 18, it was revealed that Bogojevska was allowed to plead guilty to manslaughter rather than facing a murder trial. The decision by the Director of Victoria’s Office of Public Prosecutions not to pursue a murder trial was likely due to uncertainties surrounding the exact cause of Whitehand’s death.
Court proceedings indicated that Whitehand suffered severe beatings, was suffocated, and then disposed of in the river with a bloodied tea towel stuffed in her mouth. Whitehand was last seen entering Bogojevska’s residence on Glamis Street two days before her body was found.
Whitehand’s body was wrapped in blue plastic sheets, with a bag bearing the name “Anton” (Bogojevska’s son) covering her head. An autopsy revealed that Whitehand died due to upper airway obstruction and had signs of facial blunt force trauma.
Bogojevska, who was receiving a disability support pension, was captured on CCTV footage moving Whitehand’s body and later burglarizing her home, stealing money, jewelry, personal documents, and a debit card for a spending spree.
Despite initially denying involvement in Whitehand’s death, Bogojevska was linked to the crime through forensic evidence. The motive behind her actions remains unclear, with prosecution suggesting it was driven by greed.
Bogojevska’s sentencing is pending, and she faces a minimum term of imprisonment based on her barrister’s plea. Whitehand’s neighbor expressed disappointment that Bogojevska would only be charged with manslaughter, emphasizing that it was not an accidental death.
