Young man allegedly murdered shortly after disappearance

A young man was murdered within hours of his last sighting, documents allege, as his accused killer faced court for the first time. Brandon Watts, 28, briefly appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday after being charged with the murder of 23-year-old Joshua Bishop. Watts did not apply for bail and is expected to next face court on September 22.

Joshua Bishop, a Sunbury man, was last seen by housemates on May 27. A charge sheet alleges that Bishop was murdered between May 27 and 28, shortly after he went missing. Bishop was last seen by his housemate on Lalor Crescent in Sunbury, in the city's northwest, about 9.30pm on May 27. He was reported missing by his mother on May 29, after he failed to access his phone or bank accounts.

Weeks after his disappearance, Bishop's parents made an emotional plea for their son's return, describing the disappearance as completely out of character. Police raided a home in the quiet suburb of Westmeadows where they made the grim discovery. The remains found are yet to be formally identified but are acknowledged to belong to Bishop.

Missing persons detectives earlier declared Bishop had no criminal links and his connection to the accused was not revealed in court.