AN aspiring Islamic State fighter accused of the brutal murder of his young wife in front of their three children will stand trial in Melbourne.

The man allegedly gouged out her right eye, amputated two of her fingers, and dumped her body in bushes.

Their children, aged two, four and six at the time, witnessed their mother’s June 2016 murder, police court documents say.

Her body was found by a jogger wrapped in plastic wrap, a quilt and electrical tape.

On Monday, the man entered a plea of not guilty and was ordered to stand trial in the Victorian Supreme Court, with first directions on March 30. Police documents tendered to the court say the wife’s objection to her husband’s jihadist interests may have led to him allegedly slaughtering her in front of their children.

A male relative of the accused gave evidence during the committal hearing that the victim objected to her husband’s IS sympathies and that he “sliced” her hand once when she refused to read a book about sharia law.

The relative testified that the alleged killer had told him on more than one occasion of his desire to fight for IS in Syria, and that this had caused conflict with his wife.

“He plainly told me that he wants to fight and this country is not for us,” the relative said.

“He gave her a sharia law book and she said, ‘I don’t to want to follow it’ and then he sliced her hand.” Police allege the accused exerted strong control over his wife and was physically violent towards her.

A policewoman told the court on Monday when officers went to visit the man’s home, he was reluctant to let them inside.

“Everything that was put to him, he had an excuse or reason why police couldn’t enter,” she said.

He was also hesitant to hand over his daughter, when asked to do so by the police officers, and aggressively told them: “Don’t look at me like that, you have no idea what this is all about, you’re just assuming,” the court was told.

National domestic violence helpline: 1800 737 732 or 1800RESPECT. In an emergency call triple-zero.