Murder accused enter pleas in court over death of man whose body was found in burnt-out car

Nov 16, 2023

In court: Three people charged over the murder of a man whose body was found in a burnt car at Bunbartha have entered pleas to the charge. Photo by Rodney Braithwaite

Three people charged with the murder of a man whose body was found in a burnt-out car at Bunbartha on Christmas Eve last year have entered pleas in court.

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Kylie Anne Stott, 38, of Shepparton, Danny Clarke, 39, of Shepparton, and Dimitri D’Elio, 25, of Mooroopna, are charged with the murder of Wangaratta man Charlie Gander, 19.

Firefighters were called to a car fire on Loch Garry Rd about 10am on December 24, 2022.

After the fire was extinguished, the body of Mr Gander was found inside the vehicle.

The three were charged with murder on December 30.

Ms Stott, Mr Clarke and Mr D’Elio appeared via video link from jail in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, November 16, where their matter was fast-tracked to the Supreme Court for trial.

Ms Stott, Mr Clarke and Mr D’Elio all entered pleas of not guilty on Thursday to the murder charge before they were committed to stand trial in the Supreme Court.

This means a committal hearing for the trio in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court that was set down earlier for March next year will no longer be held.

Mr Clarke is also charged with a second count of arson, while Ms Stott is also charged with possessing 1,4-butanediol and committing an indictable offence while on bail.

They were also committed to the Supreme Court on these charges.

The trio will appear in the Melbourne Supreme Court early next month for a directions hearing.

Their actual trial will be held in the Shepparton Supreme Court.