A 22 year old man has died after he stepped in to help a 14 year old schoolboy who was being attacked at Mernda railway station in Melbourne’s outer north.
Police said the attack happened during the Friday evening peak. The man, who lived in Mernda and worked as a security guard was on his way home from work.
Emergency crews were called to the station area on Bridge Inn Road about 5.50pm on 6 March. They found him with life threatening injuries and he died at the scene.
Police said the violence started when a group of four males approached the teenage boy and allegedly tried to rob him. Detectives said several people nearby stepped in to calm things down.
The 22 year old helped the schoolboy away from the group and out of the station. Police said the four then followed them and carried out what Homicide Squad Detective Acting Inspector Nigel L’Estrange called a “savage attack”, using punches, kicks and edged weapons.
Investigators said the young man was not acting aggressively and was only trying to get the boy to safety. Nigel L’Estrange told reporters that “This is just a tragic situation.”
He said the victim had tried to protect the schoolboy and as a result of his interaction, he’s now lost his life. Police found a machete nearby but they have not confirmed what weapon caused the fatal wounds.
The 14 year old suffered facial injuries including a suspected broken nose and has since been discharged from hospital. Four males aged 16, 17, 17 and 18 were arrested after the attack.
By Saturday night, police had charged a 16 year old boy, a 17 year old boy and an 18 year old man with murder and armed robbery. Another 17 year old was under police guard in hospital and had not yet been interviewed.
Police said the investigation is continuing and urged anyone who saw the attack or has footage from the area to come forward.
Officers have also flagged an increased police presence around Mernda station in the coming days as the community deals with the killing of a man who stepped in to help.
