Three teenagers have been charged with murder after an off-duty security guard was allegedly stabbed to death while trying to protect a schoolboy outside Mernda train station in Melbourne.
The 22-year-old Good Samaritan stepped in to help after seeing a 14-year-old boy allegedly being attacked by a group of males at about 6pm on Friday, and led him away from the railway station.
But Victoria Police allege four teenagers, aged 16, 17 and 18, followed the pair and allegedly fatally stabbed the man, before being arrested nearby, and one 17-year-old was taken to hospital for injuries suffered during the incident.
A bloodied machete and sheath were found nearby, but police have not specified which alleged “edged weapons” were used in the attack.
The 14-year-old was treated in hospital for a broken nose, but has been discharged.
On Saturday night police charged a 17-year-old male from the Greater Geelong area and a 16-year-old male from the Whittlesea area with murder and armed robbery. Both will appear at a children’s court at a later date.
An 18-year-old man from Mill Park was also charged with murder and armed robbery and will face the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on March 8, and a 17-year-old male from the City of Yarra is under police guard at hospital and yet to be interviewed.
The four teenagers were known to police but were not on bail at the time.
Victoria Police detective acting inspector Nigel L’Estrange told 9News the security guard was killed trying to save the 14-year-old’s life.
“He’s intervened, he’s tried to protect this 14-year-old schoolboy, he hasn’t been aggressive at all and tried to remove him from the scene and as a result of his interaction he has now lost his life,” he said.
“Those offenders followed, and in what could only be described as a savage [alleged] attack, assaulted the 22-year-old male .. with both fists, kicking and edge weapons.
“It’s cowardly, it’s shocking. It’s not something we want to see in our streets.”
Header image: Left, the injured teen. Right, a machete left at the scene (9News).
