An accused killer has asked a magistrate to throw out his murder charge, claiming a young woman could have died from a drug overdose before he allegedly hid her body in a fridge.

Prosecutors allege Marat Ganiev, 53, killed 19-year-old Isla Bell in the early hours of October 7, 2024.

Her remains were found at a rubbish tip in Melbourne's southeast six weeks later.

Ganiev's barrister Sally Flynn KC argued the prosecution's case was entirely circumstantial as she pushed for her client to be discharged.

She said the police could not prove the 53-year-old caused Ms Bell's death and it could not be excluded that Ms Bell died from a drug overdose.

Ms Flynn pointed to evidence from forensic experts, who outlined the drugs including methadone, MDMA and cannabis that were in Ms Bell's system.

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