Overview
- Magistrate Vincenzo Caltabiano ruled Tuesday that Michael James Chalmers must face a Supreme Court trial for murder and dismissed rape and unintentional‑killing‑during‑rape charges as too speculative for a jury.
- Prosecutors said CCTV shows Chalmers speaking with Liya Zhang for about two minutes before grabbing her in a headlock, forcing her onto a bed, and leaving roughly 30 minutes later as she lay motionless.
- The court heard investigators found Chalmers’ bodily fluids at the Rainbow Garden Brothel and alleged he took steps to cover up the killing.
- Two pathologists disagreed on how Zhang died, with one pointing to asphyxia from neck compression or smothering and another unable to determine a clear cause.
- Chalmers pleaded not guilty and remains in custody ahead of a Victorian Supreme Court directions hearing on April 16.