Revenue from Karen and Borce Ristevski’s clothing business was moved to another company solely in murder-accused Mr Ristevski’s name the year his wife went missing, a court has heard.

Mr Ristevski, 54, is charged with murdering his wife at their Avondale Heights home in June 2016.

Ms Ristevski’s body was found eight months after she was reported missing in bushland near Mount Macedon.

Mr Ristevski is facing a committal hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court to establish if there is enough evidence for him to stand trial.

It is expected he will plead not guilty if the case proceeds before a jury.

Mr and Ms Ristevski operated a clothing business under the company name Warrant Brands and had debts of more than $400,000 at the time of Ms Ristevski’s disappearance.

Karen Ristevski’s body was found in bushland eight months after she went missing. Photo: Facebook

Financial issues forced the couple to close their retail outlet in Broadmeadows at the end of 2015, but they continued to operate the shop, Bella Bleu, at the Watergardens shopping centre.

Gerard Curtin, a forensic accountant with Victoria Police, told the court that between May 2015 and June 2016 when Ms Ristevski went missing, Warrant Brands was having serious cash-flow issues.

“It was a constant struggle … revenues weren’t enough to meet the business expenses,” he said.

“If you can’t cover your rent, wages and stock, you won’t be surviving.”

Mr Curtin told the court that Mr Ristevski set up a separate company, Envirovision, in December 2015. He said Mr and Ms Ristevski’s daughter, Sarah, was listed as a shareholder.

Mr Curtin told the court that for some reason, the revenue from Warrant Brands started to transfer to Envirovision in 2016.

“As of June 30 [2016], Warrant Brands no longer has any income because that’s given to Envirovision. It’s not able to meet any of its loans and any liabilities,” he said.

“It basically took on the sales revenue from the shop at Watergardens.”

When he was asked why this would have happened, Mr Curtin said he had no idea.

“The debts of Warrant Brands, if it was an attempt to avoid that debt, I don’t know.”

“It doesn’t have any impact. They still have those liabilities.”

The court also heard the couple refinanced their home twice in May 2013 and in 2014.

-ABC