Ristevski girl tells of ‘calm’ father at committal hearing

THE daughter of accused wife killer Borce Ristevski has defended her father, saying he was “never” aggressive towards her or her mother, Karen.

“He was always the calm one,” Sarah Ristevski, 23, told the Melbourne Magistrates Court yesterday.

Miss Ristevski made the comments as she gave evidence in her father’s committal hearing, which will determine if he will stand trial for murdering her mother.

She sat across from her father in the courtroom, but did not look at him, instead directing most of her responses towards Magistrate Sue Cameron. Only once did she wipe away tears when retelling a story about her parents fighting over junk food.

Mr Ristevski, 54, who police allege killed Ms Ristevski in their Avondale Heights home on the morning of June 29, 2016, showed little emotion as his daughter shared details about the fights she overheard her parents having.

“I didn’t grow up in a household where there were major arguments,” she told the court.

She said her parents would fight “every few weeks” about finances as her mother was concerned sales were down at her fashion boutique store, Bella Bleu, in Watergardens shopping centre.

“There was no Bella Bleu without my mum. It was her passion,” Miss Ristevski said.

Talking of her parents’ demeanour during the fights, she said her dad was always the calming voice, while “Mum would get annoyed quickly”.

She said her mum would have mood swings, and would go for a walk or a drive to calm down, but would return.

Miss Ristevski last saw her mother in the downstairs office of the house as she left the morning of June 26, 2016.

She had described mother as “pretty bubbly”.

Asked by her father’s lawyer, David Howley SC, if her dad appeared distressed, cold or unemotional during the days after her mum went missing, Miss Ristevski said: “He her was very concerned about where my mum was.

“He was extremely worried. People who actually knew him and know him, know he was distressed.”

Police allege Mr Ristevski killed his wife between 8.58am and 10.43am, before dumping her body in a shallow grave in Mt Macedon.

He has strongly denied the allegations.

The hearing continues.