In brief
Victoria Police on Monday announced that a 51‑year‑old man from Melbourne’s inner‑west has been charged with murder and intent to seriously injure a Chinese delivery rider who died after an altercation over a tampered bike. The incident sparked a city‑wide vigil and led to calls from the Chinese Consul‑General and Victorian Premier for stringent justice and better protection for gig workers.
A 51‑year‑old man has been charged with murder and deliberately causing serious injury in the fatal stabbing of a 47‑year‑old Chinese delivery rider in Melbourne’s central business district on Friday night, Victoria Police announced on Monday.
Police said the victim, a Chinese national, died after he and another delivery rider noticed a third man allegedly tampering with their bicycles. The second rider, 34, sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital.
The arrest was made by the homicide squad detective team following an investigation. The accused, a resident of Melbourne’s inner‑west, now faces one count each of murder and intentional serious injury.
On Saturday, hundreds gathered in a vigil in central Melbourne to honour the two victims of the incident.
The Chinese Consul‑General in Melbourne, Fang Xinwen, called the Victorian Premier Ben Carroll to discuss the case, urging that it be handled fairly under the law, that the perpetrator be severely punished and that the life and legitimate interests of Chinese nationals be safeguarded.
Premier Carroll pledged to send a strong message that crimes such as this would not be tolerated and that justice would be served, and said the state government would consider changes necessary to protect gig‑economy workers.
