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A man accused of the rape and murder of a brothel owner has challenged the prosecution’s case, describing it as mere “guesswork” in his bid to have the charges against him dismissed.
Michael James Chalmers, aged 36, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday, where he faced charges related to the death of Yuko, an Asian migrant sex worker.
Yuko, 62, was discovered dead at the Footscray brothel she managed in Melbourne’s western suburbs in late November 2024.
Prosecutor Jordan Johnston presented evidence in court, including CCTV footage that allegedly captured Chalmers engaging in a brief conversation with Yuko. The footage purportedly shows him placing her in a headlock and restraining her on a bed shortly thereafter.
“The interaction commences with violence,” Mr. Johnston stated during the Monday morning proceedings, highlighting the severity of the initial encounter as captured on the footage.
Chalmers was captured on the footage leaving the brothel room about 30 minutes later while Yuko was either unconscious or already dead, the prosecutor said.
Two pathologists previously told the court Yuko likely died from strangulation or smothering.
The prosecutor said the injuries Yuko sustained were consistent with rape and the CCTV showed a “quite shocking” act of violence.
But defence barrister Barnaby Johnston argued there were was no DNA evidence linking Chalmers to those injuries, and Yuko had seen other clients in the lead-up to her death.
“It is utter guesswork how those injuries occurred,” the defence barrister said.
He urged magistrate Vincenzo Caltabiano to discharge Chalmers of rape and the state offence of murder, which alleges the 36-year-old unintentionally caused the death during the rape.
Chalmers is also facing a separate charge of common law murder.
The prosecutor accepted it was an atypical and circumstantial case but argued it should be left to a jury to decide.
Mr Caltabiano will have to consider whether there is sufficient evidence to commit Chalmers to stand trial in the Supreme Court on all or some of the charges.
The magistrate adjourned his decision to March 31.
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