Teen Killed Amid Spate Of Stabbings

The Sunday Age

Sunday December 28, 2008

TOM REILLY with JANAE HOUGHTON, AAP

A TEENAGER has died and four other people have been hospitalised after a spate of stabbings in Melbourne.

The father of the teenager, who was stabbed in the head with a screwdriver, yesterday told how he watched the life drain out of his son.

Nineteen-year-old Afram Kodi died after being attacked at a party in Melbourne's north on Boxing Day.

Police and paramedics were called to a Reservoir house shortly after 10.40pm on Friday.

The young man was treated at the scene before being taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital. He died yesterday afternoon.

Afram's father, Sudan, described watching his son die but said he was not angry with the way he died. "I see my son, his eyes closing, just breathing," Mr Kodi said. "All the boys (are) Sudanese. Life is very difficult."

Family member Mekyl Keira said he would miss his cousin. "I love him so much. We're going to miss him, but that is life."

Stephen Tito, 20, of Reservoir, was earlier charged with one count of attempted murder.

"Homicide detectives are investigating the incident," police spokeswoman Sergeant Creina O'Grady said.

Tito has been remanded in custody to appear before Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday.

Meanwhile, two brothers were stabbed with a tomahawk-style axe yesterday in what police believe was a road rage attack.

The siblings suffered multiple stab wounds to the head and chest after a dispute on the Princess Highway near Dandenong about 4am.

Detective Senior Constable Mark Fitt said one of the vehicles rammed the other after the cars had turned off the highway into David Street, Dandenong. Three men got out of each car and began fighting.

The elder brother, 26, from Doveton, was described as in a serious but stable condition. The younger, 18, was being treated at Dandenong Hospital, where he was in a stable condition.

Detective Senior Constable Fitt said the groups of men may have known each other. He called for witnesses.

Later yesterday, a man and a woman were taken to hospital after being attacked outside a hotel in Abbotsford.

A man in his late 20s was stabbed to his upper body and taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital after a dispute about drugs outside the hotel, on the corner of Victoria and Church streets.

A woman in her 30s was hit with a tyre lever. She was taken to The Alfred with cuts. Both are in a serious but stable condition. -- With JANAE HOUGHTON, AAP

© 2008 The Sunday Age

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