MELBOURNE, Australia – A 27-year-old man, Harrison Hilton-Taylor, faced the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday, accused of murdering a 46-year-old man in Melbourne’s southeast earlier in the week. The victim, Spiros Triandafilidis, was found injured on the side of a road and despite efforts by emergency services, he died at the scene. The two men were not known to each other, according to police.
Hilton-Taylor, who has schizoaffective disorder, appeared in court by video link from jail, wearing a white vest over a black shirt. His lawyer requested for him to be seen by a nurse while in custody, citing his medical condition. The prosecutor asked for time for police investigators to compile a brief of evidence due to the amount of surveillance footage that needed to be processed.
During the court proceedings, the accused killer broke out into laughter as reporters addressed the magistrate. Hilton-Taylor has been remanded in custody to appear in court on May 9. Meanwhile, police continue to investigate the circumstances around the killing, including the victim’s movements before his death.
According to Victoria Police, the victim was captured on CCTV approaching a certain area and they issued a plea for dashcam footage from anyone who drove in that area during a specific time frame. Homicide Squad detective Inspector Dean Thomas expressed condolences to the victim’s family and assured them of access to appropriate support services.
In the midst of a tragic loss, Melbourne police are diligently working to gather evidence in the case and bring justice to the victim and his family. Hilton-Taylor’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 9, as the investigation continues.