It's absurd that a drunk Melbourne woman would have been able to throw herself down a garbage chute, her former detective grandfather says.
Retired detective sergeant Lorne Campbell conducted his own investigation into the December 2010 death of Phoebe Handsjuk, which police concluded was a suicide.
It would be extremely difficult for someone to climb into a hatch and then slide down the chute, particularly under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Mr Campbell said in a statement tendered to the inquest into her death.
A post-mortem examination found traces of alcohol, the sleeping pill Stilnox and prescription medication in Ms Handsjuk's blood.
Ms Handsjuk was found at the base of a garbage chute at the luxury St Kilda Road apartment complex where she lived with her partner Antony Hampel.
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Mr Campbell said the police conclusion that the 24-year-old had committed suicide was premature.
"It is my opinion ... that she was killed by one or more people," he said.
After conducting a series of experiments with some of Ms Handsjuk's friends, Mr Campbell said it was absurd that an intoxicated person would have been able to climb into the garbage hatch, the top of which was a metre off the ground.
"I remain convinced it is not within the capacity of someone so drunk," he said.
Mr Campbell was also critical of the police investigation, saying they had ignored the presence of Ms Handsjuk's blood on a computer mouse and did not immediately seize the complex's CCTV footage.
Ms Handsjuk's mother's partner Russell Marriott said he had seen Phoebe only a few days before her death.
He told the Victorian Coroners Court she was edgy and upset, and spoke of possibly ending her relationship with Mr Hampel.
When asked by Coroner Peter White if he thought there was any way Ms Handsjuk could have killed herself, Mr Marriott replied: "In my opinion, absolutely not."
Mr Marriott said Ms Handsjuk was looking forward to her brother's birthday party.
The inquest continues on Monday.
* Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.
