A man has faced court charged with the murder of his estranged wife, Melbourne mother-of-three Cindy Crossthwaite, more than 12 years ago.
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Emil Petrov, 55, faced a brief hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday as the couple's daughter watched on.
As magistrate John Hardy read one charge of murder, Petrov shook his head and said "no".
"I'm not asking you to plead," Mr Hardy responded.
Petrov made one glance at his daughter, sitting in the public gallery, during his short court appearance.
He was remanded in custody until a committal mention on October 9.
Ms Crossthwaite, 41, was found dead at her Melton South home on June 20, 2007 by her father, Philip Crossthwaite.
He went to check on his daughter after she failed to pick up two of her children from school.
Daughter Jesmine Crossthwaite-Petrov, now aged in her 20s, told reporters outside court it "wasn't easy" to see her father behind bars.
"I'm just so thankful that this day has finally come, it's been a long 12 years and finally maybe some justice will be served for my mum," she said.
"I'm just so happy - over the moon - about that."
She thanked investigators for their 12 years of work on her mother's case.
"This outcome has actually happened. It's overwhelming and amazing I'm just feeling a whirlwind of emotions at this point, I can't even explain it to be honest," she said.
A $1 million reward was announced in 2017 for information about Ms Crossthwaite's death.
That reward remains on offer, police said on Wednesday.
Australian Associated Press
