By Australian Associated Press
Published: 02:41 GMT, 27 March 2019 | Updated: 02:44 GMT, 27 March 2019
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Melbourne woman Karen Ristevski's loved ones have described their anger and pain after learning her husband killed her and lied to cover his tracks.
Borce Ristevski, 55, has returned to court after his explosive admission earlier this month that he killed his wife, pleading guilty to manslaughter.
During a pre-sentence plea hearing at the Supreme Court of Victoria on Wednesday, statements were read by a number of Ms Ristevski's family members.
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Melbourne woman Karen Ristevski's loved ones have described their anger and pain after learning her husband killed her and lied to cover his tracks
Patricia Gray, Ms Ristevski's aunt, wept as she spoke about how she'd made and distributed flyers when the 47-year-old went missing in June 2016 while the killer lied to his family and the police.
'It was very uncomfortable to watch as he manipulated his family,' Ms Gray told the court.
'He and his vicious lies ... were agonising.
'I prayed for some kind of divine intervention.
'This crime is too great for forgiveness.'
Ms Gray said Ristevski 'bullied' his daughter Sarah into defending him, manipulating and lying for more than two years.
Ristevski admitted killing his wife following arguments about their precarious financial situation.
After his wife's death, Ristevski shoved her body in the back of her Mercedes Benz, drove towards Macedon Regional Park and turned off both their phones on the way.
He dumped his wife's body between two logs in a forest before covering her in branches.
She was not found for almost eight months. A pair of horticulturalists stumbled across her skeletal remains.
Anthony Rickard, Ristevski's son from a previous relationship, said his father (centre) 'obviously
