Man accused over body in wheelie bin has murder charge downgraded
A man charged with the murder of a graphic designer whose body was found in a wheelie bin 17 years after his disappearance has had his charge reduced to manslaughter.
John Spencer White was arrested in Queensland in August last year and charged with murdering 40-year-old John Christianos.
White, dressed in a dark suit and tie with spectacles, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday for a committal hearing to determine if he should stand trial for murder.
However, the matter was adjourned and the court was told prosecutors agreed to drop the charge to manslaughter.
Mr Christianos, a Melbourne-based graphic artist, went missing in Oakleigh South in 2001.
His body was discovered in a wheelie bin by workers as they were cleaning out a storage unit in July 2018.
White was extradited from Noosa on the Sunshine Coast following the discovery.
He has not yet entered a plea to the new manslaughter charge.
He is expected to return to court on Tuesday to apply for bail.
AAP