Betts was strangled, dismembered: court

A man throttled a childcare worker and invited his lover to watch him dismember the body in a bathtub at the lover's Phillip Island home, a court has been told.

Police alleged in the Melbourne Magistrates Court that John Coombes strangled Raechel Betts and then asked his lover Nicole Godfrey if she wanted to watch him dismember the body.

Ms Betts' body parts were found on Phillip Island beaches following her disappearance on August 11.

Coombes, 55, is charged with her murder, while Godfrey, 26, is charged with being an accessory after the fact and drug trafficking.

Homicide Detective Senior Constable Tom Hogan said Coombes told police he strangled Ms Betts at Godfrey's Wimbledon Heights house after an argument.

Coombes told police he was angry with Ms Betts because she had arranged the sexual exploitation of underage children for money, Det Sen Const Hogan said. But he added there was no evidence to support the claim.

Det Sen Const Hogan said Coombes told police that after strangling Ms Betts, he went into Godfrey's bedroom to ask for help.

Godfrey allegedly gave him plastic bags, and he began to dismember Ms Betts' body in the bathtub.

Coombes told police he asked Godfrey if she "wanted to look at it", Det Sen Const Hogan said.

Coombes also told police at times he was physically ill and unable to continue.

Det Sen Const Hogan said Coombes said he repeatedly stabbed Ms Betts' breast area "because he didn't want her to go into the next world as a woman".

He said Coombes used bleach to get rid of the bloodstains and asked Godfrey to help clean up the scene and lie to police to protect him.

The court heard Godfrey admitted to police she had told lies about the events to cover up for Coombes.

Det Sen Const Hogan said Coombes used Godfrey's car to get rid of the body and she may have given him her car under duress.

Godfrey, who has bipolar disorder, disposed of Ms Betts' bag at Coombes' request, he said.

Det Sen Const Hogan said after the killing, Godfrey continued to deal with Coombes.

"Even after seeing what happened in her bathroom, she was still prepared to deal with this man and sell drugs to him," he said.

Godfrey was refused bail on Friday after magistrate Simon Garnett decided she posed an unacceptable risk.

Coombes, of Preston, is in custody to reappear in court on February 15.

Two others have been charged on related matters.

Ryan Buscema, 25, of Mill Park, is facing charges of lying to police about Coombes' location during the murder investigation.

Maureen Renwick, 54, of Viewbank, is charged with attempting and conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

Buscema and Renwick are on bail and will appear in court on February 15.