Murder probe after 21-year-old William Holdback killed in attack at Welland

Chilling details reveal a terrified young man’s final moments as he was chased down and stabbed to death on an industrial street.

A 21-year-old man from a “decent family” was likely the victim of a drug deal gone wrong, police say, with a major murder probe launched into the “senseless” attack in the western suburbs.

William Holdback, 21, was chased down and stabbed to death after a clandestine meeting at Welland in the early hours of Wednesday morning – with the entire incident captured on CCTV.

Video shows the 21-year-old’s attacker chasing him down the road until he tripped and fell – and lost all hope of escape.

William Holdback has been identified as the young man killed at Welland on Wednesday morning. Picture: SA Police

Hours before the attack, Mr Holdback was recorded – skateboard in hand – ringing a stranger’s doorbell.

SA Police Detective Superintendent Des Bray said he believed the attack was a “senseless murder over something trivial”, with a massive police response now dedicated to finding the young man’s killers.

Superintendent Bray said security footage suggested an altercation then occurred, where the conversation “became heated”.

“We don’t know whether there was a skateboard involved in the altercation or there was something else … but it’s clear that voices became raised and people were angry,” he said.

At 1.21am, police said Mr Holdback fled from the car down adjacent Barrpowell St, pursued by a man from that vehicle.

“We know that man caught up with Will and ultimately is responsible for Will’s murder about halfway along Barrpowell St,” Superintendent Bray said.

Seconds later, the vehicle can be seen reversing down Musgrave St before doing a U-turn onto Barrpowell St, where Mr Holdback’s attacker jumps back inside the vehicle.

A group of musicians practising nearby had heard Mr Holdback screaming for help and desperately tried to save his life, but the 21-year-old died at the scene.

By 7am on Wednesday morning, Major Crime detectives had cordoned off the area, with evidence markers placed alongside a skateboard, pool of blood and tyre markings at the crime scene.

A skateboard, multiple tyre markings and a pool of blood can be seen at the crime scene. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

The suspects fled the scene in a dark-coloured four-door sedan and were last seen heading north on Welland Avenue. Picture: SA Police

Superintendent Bray said the car was last seen travelling west along Musgrave St, but the dark area made it difficult to identify its make and model.

“We’re confident that it’s a four-door sedan. It has a sunroof and mag wheels and it’s dark coloured – it could be silver, it could be black, it could be dark blue, we’re not sure,” he said.

Police said the remote location and industrial area meant the meeting had “all the hallmarks” of either a drug deal or the recovery of money and believed the offenders were known to Mr Holdback.

But ultimately, Superintendent Bray said, it was simply one bad decision that cost the 21-year-old his life.

“Sadly, Will’s made some foolish decisions and has chosen drugs at different times but … he comes from a decent family, he’s not a bad person, he’s simply made a bad decision that a lot of young people make,” Superintendent Bray said.

Police examine the crime scene at Welland. Picture: RoyVphotography

Police remove the victim’s skateboard from the Welland street. Picture: RoyVphotography

Superintendent Bray appealed for any witnesses or security guards working in the area who may have seen the man to come forward as police search for Mr Holdback’s killers.

“I’m confident of a result down the track with this job, but it’s going to take a little while,” he said.

“Nothing is solved by violence. They destroyed the lives of (Will’s) family and ultimately they’ve destroyed their own lives, because we are going to find a person responsible and they will go to jail for a long, long time.”

Police and detectives at the scene on Wednesday morning. Picture: RoyVphotography

Local worker Richard King described the end of the street where the body was found as a quiet, trouble-free cul-de-sac.

He said, despite it being a largely industrial area, many people used a footpath at the end of the street which connects to a popular jogging and walking track along the Torrens.

A nearby resident, who was out for his usual morning walk when he encountered the large police presence on Wednesday morning, told The Advertiser the area was generally “pretty quiet”, only picking up in activity when the Cyprus Community Function Centre was in use.

He said the nearby bike path along the Torrens was popular with cyclists, morning joggers and walkers.

He had not witnessed any unruly behaviour, but said the cul-de-sac had become a popular area for “young people” to do burnouts.

Police have urged anyone with information, including dashcam or CCTV footage from the area, to contact Crime Stoppers at www.crimestopperssa.com.au or phone [phone].