An African man charged over an alleged New Year’s Eve machete and knife attack that shocked Melbourne has been granted bail despite his alleged gang ties.
Kon Gob, 20, was released on Monday by Magistrate Brett Sonnet on multiple charges including including intentionally causing serious injury in circumstances of gross violence, violent disorder and affray over the incident on Lygon Street, Carlton, at about 10pm on December 31 last year.
Gob is one of three men who have been charged over the alleged gang-related stabbing, which left two other African males in hospital with serious injuries, and the court heard police believe the incident is linked to the alleged drive-by shooting murder of Sudanese 16-year-old Ater Good in Fitzroy four days later.
CCTV footage of the African gang machete attack in Carlton, Melbourne, last night.
Two men are in hospital, seven are on the run.
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Last week Melbourne Magistrates Court heard Gob was with a gang on the night of the alleged attack, and the prosecution opposed bail due to his alleged “gang friendships” although he was not a member himself, the Herald Sun reported.
Mr Sonnet adjourned the case and granted Gob bail due to his age, lack of prior convictions and anticipated delay due to multiple co-accused, on the condition he surrender his passport, abide by a 9pm to 6am curfew and report to Richmond Police Station daily.
“Mr Gob, make no mistake, the granting of bail in this case was right on the margin,” Mr Sonnet said.
Gob will reappear in court on April 7.
A 21-year-old from Fitzroy, Yahye Abas, and a 17-year-old have also been charged with violent disorder, intentionally causing serious injury and affray over the alleged stabbing outside The Balcony Shisha Bar, which was caught on CCTV.
A 19-year-old from Carlton and a 21-year-old from Reservoir were arrested by released pending further enquiries.
Four men, at least three of them of Somalian background, have been charged with murder over Ater Good’s alleged killing.
Header image: Left, right, the Carlton machete attack (supplied).
