The man charged with the murder of Hoppers Crossing woman Prasad Somawansa was a childhood friend of the victim’s son.
Sigaragh Baea, 21, of Lara, appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates Court yesterday charged with one count of murder.
The matter was adjourned and he will reappear in court on June 14.
He did not apply for bail.
In an interview with Seven News on Sunday night, the victim’s son, Wishhasad Somawansa, said Baea was a former primary school friend who he had reconnected with after a chance meeting late last year.
The former friend was invited to the family home for a meal in January, Seven News reported.
A friend of the family discovered Mrs Somawanda’s body at the family’s Barber Drive home on Thursday night after her husband was unable to contact her.
Her son, a State Emergency Services volunteer, had been responding to a call-out.
Wishhasad Somawansa spoke about his mother and her battle with breast cancer.
“She had breast cancer and she just survived that,” Mr Somawansa said in the interview.
“She’s had so many surgeries and she survived. It all seemed so perfect.
“It felt like everything was coming together – and it’s all gone.”
