Snezana Stojanovska: Pregnant woman 'strangled' before death staged

Pregnant Melbourne woman Snezana Stojanovska was strangled before relatives found her body on a makeshift weight bench, says a coroner who has called for prosecutors to pursue the case.

The 26-year-old was found dead by her husband Dragi Stojanvoski with a barbell across her neck in the family's Preston garage in November 2010.

She was wearing gardening gloves, in her pajamas on an ironing board propped up by books.

Victorian State Coroner Sara Hinchey on Thursday found the woman was a victim of homicide and directed the matter be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Also during the opening of the four-day inquest, forensic pathologist Malcolm Dodd said he did not believe Ms Stojanovska had died in a weightlifting accident.

He said her cause of death was asphyxia and neck compression, most likely caused by strangulation.

"My view was the pattern of bruises ... did not fit at all with the story provided that this may have been entrapment by a barbell."

Dr Dodd said he couldn't exclude the possibility she died as a result of a barbell falling on her neck, but thought the resulting injuries made it "extremely unlikely".

He said Ms Stojanovska was 12 weeks' pregnant.

During the hearing, five of Ms Stojanovska's family members wept as images were displayed of her body, showing bruising around her neck, upper chest and under her chin.

Sports scientist Harry Brennan told the inquest he'd never heard of a situation where a barbell had come to rest on someone's neck.

Had the barbell fallen, the weight discs most likely would have slid off as they were not attached with collars, he added.

Dr Brennan said the benchpress setup was the most unusual he'd seen and would have been uncomfortable.

He also questioned why Ms Stojanovska wasn't wearing gym clothes.

A neighbour, Harry Higney, told the inquest he heard "echoed shouting" of male and female voices from an empty house next to the Stojanovskas' home, which they also owned.

Mr Stojanovski has been excused from giving evidence during the inquest after telling an earlier hearing his answers may tend to incriminate him.