<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A man accused of raping and murdering a brothel owner has argued the prosecution case against him was "guesswork" as he sought to have the charges thrown out.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Michael James Chalmers, 36, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday, charged over the death of Asian migrant sex worker Yuko.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The 62-year-old woman was found dead at the Footscray brothel she ran in Melbourne's west in late November 2024.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-march-23-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/ab76975a-165f-4487-9116-2b60ba5a4a4e" target="_blank"><strong><span>Iran's military says Strait of Hormuz will be 'completely closed' if US bombs power plants</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>CCTV footage allegedly showed Chalmers speaking with Yuko for about two minutes before he grabbed her in a headlock and pinned her down on the bed, prosecutor Jordan Johnston said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The interaction commences with violence," Mr Johnston told the court on Monday morning.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Chalmers was captured on the footage leaving the brothel room about 30 minutes later while Yuko was either unconscious or already dead, the prosecutor said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/man-accused-of-rape-murder-brother-owner-wants-charges-thrown-out/b89fc5a9-694a-47d6-8ff2-a82e0e70516d" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Two pathologists previously told the court Yuko likely died from strangulation or smothering.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/daylight-savings-2026-when-does-it-end-australia-what-to-do-clocks-april-explainer/557ba184-b801-488a-8ded-d2e063cf3e21" target="_blank"><strong><span>Millions of Aussies will get an extra hour of sleep soon as daylight saving ends</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The prosecutor said the injuries Yuko sustained were consistent with rape and the CCTV showed a "quite shocking" act of violence.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But defence barrister Barnaby Johnston argued there were was no DNA evidence linking Chalmers to those injuries, and Yuko had seen other clients in the lead-up to her death.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It is utter guesswork how those injuries occurred," the defence barrister said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He urged magistrate Vincenzo Caltabiano to discharge Chalmers of rape and the state offence of murder, which alleges the 36-year-old unintentionally caused the death during the rape.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Chalmers is also facing a separate charge of common law murder.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/abc-staff-plan-strike-over-rejected-pay-offer/6157e1a5-46a5-4fe5-89f8-3ffbb8052988" target="_blank"><strong><span>ABC staff to strike for first time in 20 years after rejecting national broadcaster's pay deal</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The prosecutor accepted it was an atypical and circumstantial case but argued it should be left to a jury to decide.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mr Caltabiano will have to consider whether there is sufficient evidence to commit Chalmers to stand trial in the Supreme Court on all or some of the charges.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The magistrate adjourned his decision to March 31.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Help is available via the </span></strong><a href="https://www.1800respect.org.au/" rel="" target="" title=""><strong><span>National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service</span></strong></a><span> </span><strong><span>on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a 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