Boyfriend of missing Vic woman faces court

Toby Loughnane, 45, faced court on Friday on charges understood to relate to an alleged assault on Ms Hamka between December last year and April this year.

She has been a missing person since April 10 when she was seen leaving a Woolworth supermarket near her home in Brunswick before telling family she was going to see a friend in Brighton.

Magistrate Mia Stylianou refused to release details of a handful of charges being faced by Loughnane on Friday, after lawyer Sam Norton said those details were "likely" to form part of a brief of evidence against his client if he is charged over Ms Hamka's disappearance.

Mr Norton said he understood a homicide investigation involving Loughnane was close to being finalised.

Loughnane, from Brighton, was arrested several days after Ms Hamka's disappearance. He appeared in court by videolink from the Metropolitan Remand Centre.

Mr Norton said while usual protocol would allow for the release of charge details, the circumstances here were very unusual.

"Publication of those charges where there is that pending investigation is likely to prejudice the views of Mr Loughnane in the public," he said.

Mr Norton said he wasn't sure what Lougnhane would be charged with, if the homicide investigation results in charges.

The hearing was briefly interrupted by a outburst from a woman identified only as Toni.

She was seen shouting during the online hearing but un-muted herself toward the end, telling Loughnane "you're gone".

Ms Stylianou told Mr Norton her decision not to release details of the charges fell on his side of a very fine line, warning him she wasn't sure how much longer he'd be able to ward off applications for access.

Loughnane is due to return to court on June 4.

Australian Associated Press