Pair face court over Vic barrel murder

Two Melbourne men have appeared in court over the murder of a man whose body was found in a barrel in central Victoria six months after he disappeared.

Albanvale man David Whimpey, 30, was last seen about 10pm near a hotel on the Old Calder Highway in Keilor on October 23.

His body was found in a barrel more than 100km away, at a property in Mia Mia, on April 24.

Brendan Abela, 31, of St Albans and Sunshine man Brendan Stanley, 46, faced Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Wednesday charged with his murder.

Both men were remanded in custody to reappear in court in August for a committal mention.

A silver 2009 Subaru Impreza was spotted speeding along the Heathcote-Kyneton Rd the morning after Mr Whimpey went missing and detectives wish to speak to anyone who saw it.