A Melbourne magistrate will hear from witnesses including an insect specialist as she considers whether there is enough evidence for accused wife-killer Borce Ristevski to stand trial.
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The 54-year-old is charged with the murder of 47-year-old Karen Ristevski, who vanished from the couple's Avondale Heights home in June 2016.
Ms Ristevski, a fashion boutique owner, had been missing for eight months before her remains were spotted by a bushwalker at Macedon Regional Park in February 2017.
Family members and journalists filled Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday for the start of what is expected to be a two-week committal hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to send Ristevski to trial.
With his hair cropped and beard trimmed, Ristevski entered the dock wearing a charcoal suit over a white shirt, without a tie.
"As far as today goes, it is proposed to call four witnesses," prosecutor Matt Fisher told the court.
Those witnesses include an insect specialist, Parks Victoria ranger and a customer from Ms Ristevski's shop.
Ristevski, who was a pallbearer at his wife's private funeral, was charged with murder in December and has denied the allegation.
He allegedly murdered his wife at Avondale Heights on June 29, 2016, the day she went missing.
Detectives tapped phone calls and planted listening devices as they investigated Ristevski, compiling a 22,000-page evidence brief, the court has been told previously.
Magistrate Suzanne Cameron will hear from nearly 30 witnesses at the pre-trial hearing, including the couple's daughter Sarah and possibly Ristevski's son Anthony Rickard.
Rickard, 34, allegedly dodged police for months because he didn't want to give evidence at his father's hearing, but he was arrested and faced court himself on Sunday.
The court was told Rickard is a witness in the death of his stepmother and police had been attempting to serve him a witness summons since May.
Australian Associated Press