Police have charged 31-year-old Sean Price with the murder of 17-year-old schoolgirl Masa Vukotic.
Price is due to appear before Melbourne magistrates court on Friday morning.
In an out-of-session court hearing on Thursday night, closed to the public because of security concerns, Price, from the western suburb of Albion, was also charged with a number of other offences.
These included one count of rape, which police allege he committed in Sunshine on Thursday morning, barely two days after Vukotic was found stabbed to death in a park in Doncaster.
Price was also charged with two counts of robbery and three counts of common law assault, also alleged to have occurred on Thursday morning.
He was arrested on Thursday around noon after a large appeal to the public for information, which included the release of CCTV footage. Price handed himself in to police in Sunshine amid the extensive media campaign.
Vukotic was found dead in Koonung Creek Linear park about 7pm on Tuesday, and police said it appeared she had been randomly attacked while out on her evening walk.
Police were called after people living near the reserve heard a girl screaming. When emergency services attended Vukotic was still alive, but she died at the scene and paramedics were unable to revive her.
A vigil was held for her in the park on Wednesday evening, with her classmates from Canterbury Girls’ Secondary College attending alongside friends and family.
In a statement, Canterbury Girls’ principal, Dr Mary Cannon, said counselling was being provided to staff and students.
“Masa was a very popular and respected student who had close friendships with many students,” Cannon said.
“Our thoughts and wishes are with Masa’s family at this incredibly difficult time.”
