A mother of three, found deceased in her residence, had issued a desperate plea to a stalker to cease harassing her merely months prior to the tragic incident. Homicide investigators apprehended a man following the discovery of Belinda Nicholls' body at a house situated on Mountain Highway near Dorset Road in Bayswater, located in Melbourne's outer eastern suburbs, around 11am on Monday.
Arrest and Investigation Details
The 39-year-old male resident of Bayswater was taken into custody at a nearby bus stop less than sixty minutes later and is understood to have been acquainted with Ms Nicholls. As of Wednesday, he had not been formally charged while detectives persisted with their inquiries, revealing a distressing portrayal of Ms Nicholls' recent life.
Social Media Plea and Disturbing Posts
In August 2024, the proud Indigenous mother utilized social media to implore a stalker to desist. Her explicit post read: 'F*** off Stalker, stop being a bulls*** TALKER YA PARROT,' accompanied by the statement: 'I'm not a pirate go find another shoulder to land s*** on.' This message was paired with a video depicting Snow White fleeing in terror, captioned: 'When I see my crazy obsessed stalker satan hamster.'
Indications of Ms Nicholls' ordeal were visible across her social media profiles, with a bio describing her as 'damaged' and a graduate of the 'University of Real Life Experience.'
Community and Family Tributes
Margaret Hamilton, a long-standing family friend, conveyed to The Age that those close to Ms Nicholls were shattered by her untimely death. 'Belinda was a beautiful soul who adored her three boys,' she expressed. 'She was a loyal friend and maintained close ties with all of my family. Despite numerous challenges, she consistently aspired for an improved life for herself and her beloved sons.'
Heritage and Personal Identity
Ms Nicholls demonstrated fervent pride in her Indigenous heritage, prominently displaying a large Aboriginal flag painted on the garage of her home, which was owned by Aboriginal Housing Victoria. Ms Hamilton noted that her friend often wore attire featuring the Aboriginal flag.
Neighbourhood Accounts and Police Activity
Local residents characterized Ms Nicholls as a compassionate and considerate individual who was reliably supportive yet frequently reserved. One neighbour recounted police inquiries around 1pm on Monday regarding any unusual sounds, recalling a loud noise the preceding night followed by silence. He also mentioned past incidents of heated disputes at the property, involving raised voices and door slamming.
On Monday, police cordoned off the premises as forensic teams conducted evidence collection. Authorities urge anyone with information, footage, or who witnessed the event to contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or submit a report via www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
