A 34-year-old man has been charged with the murders of a pregnant woman and her partner in Mount Waverley, a suburb in Melbourne’s east. Police discovered the bodies of Athena Georgopoulos, 39, and Andrew Gunn, 50, in their home on Adrienne Crescent around 10pm on a Monday evening. Concerned calls to emergency services were made, including one from an acquaintance of the accused, Ross Judd, who was later apprehended approximately 7 kilometres away at Westall Station with injuries and a blood-stained shirt shortly after 1.30am on Tuesday.
Judd, who reportedly has no permanent address, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, where he did not seek bail. The magistrate has allowed prosecutors an additional 10 weeks to prepare their initial brief due to the complexities surrounding the crime scene and the volume of evidence collected, including DNA analysis. Given the circumstances surrounding Georgopoulos’s pregnancy, the autopsy process may also be prolonged.
During the court proceedings, it emerged that Judd had never before been in custody and will be monitored by a nurse to address his physical health concerns and required medication. He has been remanded to return to court on January 13 next year.
An extensive crime scene remains at the victims’ residence, where graffiti featuring phrases such as “betrayal” and “karma has no menu” has been observed. Relatives have expressed their grief, especially Georgopoulos’s mother, who shared her heartache on social media. She described her daughter’s joy over her pregnancy and lamented the loss while sharing a touching tribute.
The investigation has pointed to the nature of the incident as a targeted attack, although the specific relationship between Judd and the victims has not yet been established. Detective Inspector Dean Thomas indicated that the suspect and the victims were acquainted and confirmed that the police are not seeking any additional suspects, as it appears to have been an isolated occurrence.
The case has raised considerable interest in the community, revealing a tragic scenario affecting family and friends.