Teen girl dead, another critical after stabbing in Parramatta

A man has been charged with murder after a teenage girl was stabbed to death and another critically wounded when a birthday party took a tragic turn in Sydney’s west.

A birthday party has ended in tragedy after a teenage girl was stabbed to death and another suffered critical wounds.

A friend of one of the girls — 19-year-old Kristian Kovaleff — was on Saturday charged with murder after turning himself in at Parramatta Police Station.

The trio were staying at the Meriton suites on Church St in Parramatta on Friday night.

It is understood there was at least one other person in the apartment earlier in the night and the teenagers were celebrating a birthday.

About 10.45pm, police were called to the apartment tower after one of the 17-year-old girls was found in the foyer with stab wounds. Police believe she went downstairs to get help.

Police at The Meriton Suites in Parramatta where a fatal stabbing overnight. (Pictures by Julian Andrews).

“The 17-year-old child located in the foyer did seek assistance from other residents in the hotel and a number of calls were received,” Parramatta police crime manager Detective Inspector Thomas Barnes said.

Officers then went upstairs and found another 17-year-old girl, believed to be from Sydney’s south, inside one of the rooms.

“Shortly after attending the location, police had cause to go up to a room within the building where they located another 17-year-old female suffering a number of wounds to her torso,” Inspector Barnes said.

“Police and ambulance performed CPR as well as other emergency treatment.”

Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnes speaks to the media at Parramatta police station after a fatal stabbing overnight at The Meriton Suites in Parramatta. Picture: Julian Andrews

This teenage girl was rushed to Westmead Hospital but died on arrival. The other 17-year-old spent yesterday in the intensive care unit surrounded by family.

Her condition improved from critical to stable, a hospital spokeswoman said yesterday afternoon.

“We are waiting to speak to the 17-year-old in ICU and hopefully once we do that we will get a far clearer picture of what took place,” Inspector Barnes said.

The Meriton Suites in Parramatta.

At 2.50am, Kovaleff turned up at Parramatta Police Station with his father and was placed under arrest.

“I can’t comment on what the male may or may not have said to police other than to say he is assisting us with our inquiries,” Inspector Barnes said.

By 5pm on Saturday, Kovaleff had been charged with murder and wound with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

He is due to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Sunday.

Inspector Barnes wouldn’t confirm the nature of the relationship between Kovaleff and the victims other than to say they all knew each other.

“That is yet to be confirmed and quite clearly their focus is in terms of the child in hospital and the welfare and recovery of that child,” he said.

“And obviously the parents of the child that is deceased are clearly grieving the loss of a daughter, a sister in the lead-up to Christmas.

“As a consequence police are obviously allowing them the time to process what happened and we will speak to them as soon as we can.”

The incident is being investigated under Strike Force Benbullen.

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