Former Sydney cop, 53, is accused of killing his Filipino girlfriend, 25, and making her death look like suicide - as neighbours report a 'heated argument' a night before she died
- Former Sydney police officer has been accused of killing his Filipino girlfriend
- Jamie Flanagan, 53, called local Filipino police to his home on Sunday
- They found Desiree Manozo, 25, with three ties around her neck, ruling a suicide
- After an autopsy was completed, it was found she was strangled to death
- Flanagan has been charged with homicide and is being held in police custody
A former Sydney police officer is accused of killing his 25-year-old Filipino girlfriend and attempting to make her death look like suicide.
Jamie Flanagan, 53, rang local police in the Philippines and reported that his girlfriend, Desiree Manozo, hung herself at their home on Sunday.
The retired sergeant from the Newtown command in Sydney's inner-west called police to his home in the Santa Monica subdivision, where they found the 25-year-old with three ties around her neck.
Jamie Flanagan (right), 53, rang local police in the Philippines and reported that his girlfriend, Desiree Manozo (left), hung herself at their home on Sunday
A former Sydney police officer has been accused of killing his 25-year-old Filipino girlfriend Desiree Manozo (pictured) and covering it up to look like a suicide
Police initially ruled the young mother-of-three's death as a suicide, The Daily Telegraph reported.
However, an autopsy revealed Ms Manozo died before she was hung.
According to local police, the autopsy found that the official cause of her death was strangulation.
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Flanagan was arrested and charged with homicide, which means a death caused by a spur of the moment action in the Philippines, and is currently in police custody.
Despite denying the allegations, police have not ruled out the possibility of upgrading the charge to premeditated murder.
According to local media The Inquirer, police said relatives reported that the couple had a 'heated argument' the day before the incident.
Flanagan updated his profile picture on Facebook to a photo of the couple together, with friends commenting that they are supporting him through the ordeal.
Police initially ruled the young mother-of-three's death as a suicide (pictured Flanagan and his dead girlfriend)
An autopsy revealed Ms Manozo had died before the neckties were tied around her neck and she was hung
'We are behind you. MATE we will get this s**t sorted,' one friend wrote.
'I am lost for words I don't know what to say, just hope you're going to be OK bud,' another friend wrote.
Tributes are flowing for the young mother online, with her image being shared hundreds of times with the hashtag #JusticeforDesiree.
'A good daughter to her parents. The best sibling to her sisters and brother,' Criselda Manozo wrote to Facebook.
'She loved her children with all her heart and did everything she could to make their dreams come true.'
'She really made an impact on many peoples lives and was know for her caring heart. Long conversation and putting other in front of her own personal needs.'
According to local police, the autopsy found that the official cause of her death was strangulation
Premeditated murder carries a penalty of 20 to 40 years behind bars in the Philippines.
Ms Manozo gave birth to her first child with Flanagan last year, after he went 'AWOL' from his job as a general-duties officer at Marrickville a few years ago.
An officer who knew Flanagan told the Telegraph he 'had issues' and 'took off to the Philippines when he was knocked back on an injury claim to get out of the force'.
'Then he came back and eventually was discharged from the force with a lump-sum payment under the death and disability scheme which operated then,' the officer said.
Flanagan stopped working as a Police Officer in November 2013 when 'PTSD finally got the better' of him, he wrote on Facebook.
'After fighting with the insurance companies for 4 years I moved to the Philippines, where I had previously met my current fiance,' he wrote.
'I have been divorced twice before and have two daughters from previous relationships.'
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