Introduction

The Maribanong River is the second major river in metropolitan Melbourne. It originally served as an arterial shipping route in the city's west, fostering the development of the area's industrial growth. In recent times, most of the riverside industry has been closed, with the Maribanong reestablished as a recreational hub for boating, fishing, rowing and cruises. Two walkers noticed something floating upstream in the murky waters of the river. Upon taking a closer look, they immediately contacted police who promptly arrived to the riverbank. They placed it on their jetty and peered inside, discovering the bag contained what appeared to be a reasonably fresh, severed human limb.