An expert can't determine how a young woman died because her body was crushed in a garbage truck six weeks after she was allegedly murdered, a court has heard.

Marat Ganiev, 53, is accused of killing Isla Bell on October 7, 2024, three days after the 19-year-old was last seen leaving her Brunswick home in Melbourne's north.

Her remains were found at a rubbish tip in the city's southeast on November 19.

Ganiev faced Melbourne Magistrates Court via video link on Monday, listening through an interpreter for the start of his committal hearing.

Eyal Yaffe, 58, who allegedly helped him dispose of Ms Bell's body, also fronted court charged with assisting an offender.

Ganiev is accused of murdering Ms Bell before 2am on October 7, with CCTV allegedly showing him striking the teen in the kitch

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