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The man accused of the rape and murder of 11-year-old Zoe Buttigieg has faced his charges in court.
Bowe Maddigan, 29, of Mildura, sat in Wangaratta Magistrates’ Court on Thursday with a straight face, closing his eyes and lowering his head multiple times as disturbing details were revealed.
He has been charged with murder, sexual penetration of a child under 16 and indecent act on a child under 16 on Sunday.
The accused murderer was arrested walking barefoot on the Hume Freeway about 6.30am before Zoe was found dead in her Inchbold Street home by her mother about 11am.
After spending three days in a mental health unit before being charged, the accused was cleaned up for court in a white shirt and black pants, his long hair tied into a bun and his beard kept neat.
Three police guarded Maddigan in the dock, but the prisoner had not been any trouble in the holding cells so they did not place him in handcuffs.
Maddigan did not have any support in the courtroom, while one person representing Zoe’s family did attend.
The case was adjourned until February 11, 2016.
Magistrate Stella Stuthridge, who suppressed the brutal details of the alleged rape, said she wanted to protect the victim’s family from hearing the disturbing information.
She approved a police application to take a sample of Maddigan’s DNA.
Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Heath Dosser said he was unsure if Maddigan had any drug or alcohol issues.
"He was released by Kerferd (mental health unit at Wangaratta hospital) and arrested immediately after his release," he said.
Solicitor Joe Battiato did not make a bail application, but requested Maddigan be seen by the police medical officer when the prisoner arrived in Melbourne.
"The defendant's on some medication, they're anti-depressants," he said.
Outside court, Mr Battiato would not speak on Maddigan’s behalf, saying he would leave any comments to the Legal Aid lawyers taking on the case.
Extra security was in place at the court on Thursday, as police checked bags and used metal detectors to scan people walking into the courtroom.
The girl was found dead by her mother in her Inchbold Street home about 11am Sunday.
The accused murderer was arrested walking barefoot along the Hume Freeway, about 10 kilometres from her house about 6.30am on Sunday.
