Accused mum killer on drugs

A MAN accused of killing a Melbourne mum is withdrawing from potent drugs including Xanax, a court has heard.

Ricardo Barbaro has been charged with one count of murder over the death of Melbourne mum Ellie Price.

Dressed in a grey jumper and with a cut near his left eye Barbaro was mostly silent during the hearing in front of magistrate John Lesser yesterday.

The 33-year-old only spoke when questioned on whether he was withdrawing from any drugs, by Mr Lesser.

He nodded yes before he said: “Valiums and Xanax”.

Barbaro, from Southport in Queensland, was asked whether he needed a nurse.

“Yeah I’m seeing a doctor,” he said.

The young mum was found dead in her South Melbourne home on May 4.

The 26-year-old woman’s body was in her apartment for days before it was discovered.

Barbaro’s lawyer Campbell MacCallum dialled into the hearing from Queensland. There was no application for bail made.