Two face court over millionaire's death

Two people alleged to have murdered Melbourne multi-millionaire Herman Rockefeller
were separated by a security guard during a brief court appearance on Monday.

The body of the 52-year-old property investor was found in a junk-strewn suburban
backyard in Melbourne's northwest last Friday, eight days after he was reported
missing on January 21.
It has been claimed Mr Rockefeller was using erotic websites to find partners in
Melbourne's swingers network.
Police allege Mario Schembri, 57, of Wallan, and Bernadette Denny, 41, of Hadfield,
murdered Mr Rockefeller at Denny's home.
When the pair appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court for a short filing hearing
on Monday, a security guard stood between them.
Schembri, who was wearing a white T-shirt, appeared to be trying to get Denny's
attention during the hearing.
Denny, wearing an orange zip-up top, sat looking towards the front of the court
throughout the five-minute hearing.
At one point, Schembri appeared to hide from a court sketch artist.
Schembri's son was in court, which also heard that Denny requires medication for
arthritis.
No evidence was led during the hearing and the pair were not required to enter
pleas. They were remanded in custody until May 24 for a committal mention hearing.
Chief Magistrate Ian Gray suppressed Schembri's street address after an application
by his lawyer.
But Mr Gray said there was no point in suppressing Denny's address as it was already
widely known.
An out-of-sessions hearing held on Friday was told Mr Rockefeller was killed within
hours of returning to Melbourne from an interstate business trip.
He was last seen on CCTV footage at Melbourne Airport after 9pm on January 21.
His 2007 Toyota Prius was found abandoned in rural Victoria four days later.



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