An aspiring Islamic State fighter accused of the brutal murder of his young wife in front of their three children will stand trial in Melbourne.
The man allegedly gouged out her right eye, amputated two of her fingers, and dumped her body in bushes, according to news.com.au.
Their children, aged two, four and six at the time, witnessed their mother's June 2016 murder, police court documents say.
Her body was found by a jogger wrapped in plastic wrap, a quilt and electrical tape.
Today, the man entered a plea of not guilty and was ordered to stand trial in the Victorian Supreme Court, with first directions on March 30.