Three men charged with murder after body parts found in Melbourne river

Three men have been charged over the murder of a man whose body parts were found in a Melbourne river last month.

Remains of Brendan David Bernard were found scattered throughout the Maribyrnong River early in February.

Victoria Police announced last night they had interviewed and charged three men with the 32-year-old’s murder.

Con Spaliaras, 31, Matthew David Brennan, 36 and Edward Lionel Hill, 46 have each been charged with one count of murder.

The North Melbourne men are due to face Melbourne Magistrate’s Court today.

Police had not been able to establish a motive in February when the victim was identified.

A runner had spotted a severed forearm, marked with a distinctive red devil tattoo, floating in the river on February 5.

Subsequent searches unearthed a second limb and a bag of flesh, while a member of the public found another limb two days later.

A second bag of flesh was discovered by a woman rowing.

Mr Bernard was identified when a family member came forward after police released an image of his tattoo.

Drug debts may have been a motive in Mr Bernard's murder, the Herald Sun reports.