A Melbourne man has admitted to killing a retired teacher whose body was discovered inside a wheelie bin at a waste facility in July.
Stephen Fleming, who had initially been charged with murder, formally pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter in the Victorian Supreme Court on Thursday.
The victim, 67-year-old Annette Brennan, was a long-time English teacher remembered for her dedication to education and her vibrant personality. She was killed in Coolaroo, a suburb in Melbourne’s north, before her body was found by tip workers at a waste facility in Epping on July 3. Workers were moving green waste when they made the grim discovery.
Court documents revealed that Fleming had faced a sentence indication hearing earlier this week, though details of that proceeding remain undisclosed as the session was closed to media. Prosecutors have not yet outlined the full circumstances of Brennan’s death, and no additional facts were read aloud during the brief arraignment.
Justice Christopher Beale presided over Thursday’s hearing, during which Fleming spoke only to formally enter his guilty plea. He was remanded in custody until his plea hearing, scheduled for September, when the court will hear further details about the case.
The change from a murder to a manslaughter charge typically indicates prosecutors accepted that while Fleming was responsible for Brennan’s death, they could not or did not seek to prove the element of intent required for a murder conviction.
Friends and former colleagues of Brennan have expressed shock and sadness over her killing. She was described as a compassionate educator who worked tirelessly to support her students, often going above and beyond to ensure they succeeded.
While the motive for the killing remains unclear, the discovery of Brennan’s body in a wheelie bin shocked the local community and drew widespread media attention across Victoria.
Police have not commented publicly on whether Brennan and Fleming knew each other prior to the incident, but investigators confirmed that they had established a timeline of events leading up to her death. Those details are expected to emerge at the September hearing.
Brennan’s killing has reignited discussions about violence against older women in Australia, with advocacy groups calling for stronger protections and improved community awareness.
For now, Fleming remains behind bars, facing a sentence that could span many years, depending on the judge’s assessment of the severity of his actions and any mitigating factors presented by his defense team.
The sentencing will also consider victim impact statements from Brennan’s family, who are expected to speak about the profound loss they have suffered.
Until then, the full story of what happened to Annette Brennan — and why — remains largely untold, awaiting its reveal in court.
