The man accused of murdering his former partner at a home in a Victorian border town – and parading her children in social media videos while she lay dead – has allegedly punched a female prison officer, rendering her unconscious.
Victoria Police confirmed they were investigating after Prem Kumar, 45, allegedly assaulted the prison officer at the Metropolitan Remand Centre in Melbourne’s west.
Prem Kumar is charged with murdering his former partner.Credit: Facebook
“Melton crime investigation unit detectives are investigating an assault in Ravenhall on August 21,” a police spokeswoman said.
“It is alleged a man in custody assaulted a female prison officer on Middle Road about 1.30pm.
“The officer was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The investigation remains ongoing.”
Kumar allegedly punched the prison transport officer and shouted at her while she was unconscious on the ground, Seven News reported.
Kumar appeared on Wednesday in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court, where he did not apply for bail after he was charged with murdering his 32-year-old former partner.
Police were called to a social housing unit in the border town of Cobram about 5am on Tuesday, and found her dead.
In videos posted to Facebook after the alleged murder, Kumar paraded her children outside the house while her body was still inside.
In one of the videos, emergency services could be heard in the background as Kumar filmed the children, who had changed from their pyjamas into traditional Indian clothing, outside the unit. “Do you want to come sit in the car?” an emergency worker said off camera.
The children and their mother had lived in Cobram for about two years. Kumar is linked to an address in Dandenong, in Melbourne’s south-east.
Kumar is next due to appear in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on December 10.
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