Man charged over death of woman found in wheelie bin
New South Wales Police have charged a man with manslaughter over the death of a woman in Wollongong whose body was found in a wheelie bin eight years ago.
The body of 34-year-old Valmai Jane Birch was discovered stuffed inside the bin inside a unit on Woods Ave at Woonona on March 22, 2011.
Neighbours contacted emergency after noticing a foul smell coming from the unit.
A post-mortem at the time was inconclusive but Police deemed the death suspicious.
A 52-year-old man, reported to be Ms Birch’s former partner was arrested at a home in Kiama this morning.
His arrest comes after Police had the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions review their brief of evidence.
Image | NSW Police
“Following advice provided to police by the ODPP, and following further inquiries, strike force detectives, assisted by Southern Region Operations Support Group, arrested a 52-year-old man at a home at Kiama about 7.30am today,” Police said in a statement.
He has since been charged with manslaughter with Police alleging there was a history of domestic violence.
The man was refused bail to appear in Wollongong Local Court today.
