MONSTER HOUSEMATE: Killer Dumped English Teacher’s Body in Green Waste Bin, Showing ‘Grave Disrespect’ – As Court Hears of His Callous Crime
- Stephen Fleming pleaded guilty to manslaughter after killing Annette Brennan, a 67-year-old English teacher, in their share house.
- Her body was found at a waste management facility in Epping, north of Melbourne, after being put through machinery in a rubbish truck.
- The court heard Fleming showed ‘no remorse’ for the killing and is likely to be released from prison in about a decade.
Annette Brennan’s life was brutally cut short by her new housemate, Stephen Fleming, who showed ‘grave disrespect’ by dumping her body in a green waste bin. The 67-year-old English teacher’s mutilated body was found at a waste management facility in Epping, north of Melbourne, on July 3, 2024.
Fleming, 47, pleaded guilty to manslaughter last month and will be sentenced on October 29. The court heard that Fleming had only moved into the Coolaroo share house with Ms Brennan a month earlier, after responding to an online advertisement.
Prosecutor David Glynn said an autopsy could not determine how Fleming had killed Ms Brennan, due to the severe damage her body suffered after being put through machinery in the rubbish truck. Traces of Ms Brennan’s blood were found inside her home, but Fleming gave ‘no comment’ answers when homicide detectives asked if he was involved in her death.
Police initially charged Fleming with murder, which carries a standard sentence of 25 years’ jail, but prosecutors later agreed to accept a downgraded plea to manslaughter. This means Fleming is likely to be released from prison in about a decade, his defence barrister Michael McGrath said.
The court heard that Ms Brennan had complained to friends about Fleming’s strange behaviour, saying ‘I just don’t like him. I just don’t want him here.’ Her friend Nan Austin said the killing had come as a ‘huge shock’, adding ‘No-one should die like that and be stuffed in a wheelie bin as trash.’
Fleming’s defence barrister conceded his client’s actions were callous, but said his prospects of rehabilitation were reasonable, at best. However, Justice Christopher Beale warned Fleming that he would have to come to court in person to be sentenced on October 29, after he failed to show up to court via video link.
‘There’ll be no excuses on that date. You’ll need to hop on that bus,’ Fleming’s barrister told him after the hearing.