Doubt cast over Vic runaway groom wedding

The Vic bride of runaway groom Murat Shomshe says there was a wedding, despite a receipt which has raised speculation about the happy day.

Murat Shomshe.

A receipt released to media has cast doubt on whether runaway groom Murat Shomshe got married. (AAP)

Murat Shomshe may have been dubbed Melbourne's "runaway groom" too soon, as doubt is cast over whether he's actually married.

The 33-year-old was granted weekend bail in July so he could marry Belinda Dulevski, but then fled while his new "bride" was in the shower.

Shomshe was given weekend release after telling Judge Richard Maidment he would lose a $6000 deposit if his wedding was cancelled.

But the venue Shomshe says he paid, which is named on a receipt released to media, has told AAP there was no wedding there that weekend and they had no record of the receipt.

Ms Dulevski, who was in the Victorian County Court supporting Shomshe on Wednesday, simply said: "Yes, there was" when reporters outside asked her whether there had been a wedding.

The receipt, which was tendered during Shomshe's bail application, says a $6000 deposit was paid for 160 guests at $125 a head, with the event to take place on "Saturday 24, July 2015".

That Saturday was actually the 25th of July.

During Shomshe's bail application, the court was told there were about 470 guests attending.

Shomshe was supposed to return to court on July 27 but instead did a runner.

When he failed to appear, Judge Maidment asked whether Shomshe had married.

"I've been told that, yes, they did get married on Saturday," Shomshe's lawyer said.

Shomshe was arrested on Tuesday.

He came before the court on Wednesday when his trial on other charges was adjourned to February next year, after barrister James McQuillan presented some of the "plethora" of adverse media publicity about Shomshe to Judge Mark Gamble.

"Those representations have been such that my client could not possibly receive a fair trial," he said.


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Source: AAP


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