Heidelberg West, Reservoir: Eight teens have been charged after alleged homicide, kidnapping in Melbourne’s north

Eight teenagers have been arrested in relation to an alleged homicide and kidnapping in Melbourne’s north.

Eight teens have been charged over an alleged Heidelberg West homicide and kidnapping of a man in Reservoir last month.

Police arrested nine males since October 19, executing ten search warrants in Melbourne’s north and arresting four at the Melbourne Airport.

Five were charged with murder and kidnapping including:

A 17-year-old boy who was arrested at Melbourne Airport on October 26;

A 17-year-old boy who was arrested at Melbourne Airport on November 1;

A 19-year-old Preston man who was arrested on November 2. He was remanded and is expected to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on January 20;

A 17-year-old boy who was arrested on November 3 and

A 17-year-old boy who was arrested at Melbourne Airport on November 15.

The four underage boys will appear at the children's court at a later date.

Three others were charged with kidnapping including:

An 18-year-old Heidelberg West man who was arrested at Melbourne Airport on October 19. He was remanded and will appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on January 12;

A 16-year-old boy was was arrested on November 3 and will appear at the children’s court at a later date and

An 18-year-old Bundoora man who was arrested on November 8. He was bailed to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on March 1.

A 16-year-old boy was arrested on November 2, but was released pending further inquiries.

The arrests come after an alleged Heidelberg West stabbing where a man was fatally assaulted on October 16.

Emergency services were called to North Crescent about 3.30pm following reports of an assault.

Police allege about ten people in two vehicles arrived at the property at about 3.30pm before allegedly fatally stabbing a 25-year-old Thomastown man.

The alleged offenders then left the scene in one vehicle and a 20-year-old Reservoir man, the alleged victim of an earlier kidnapping, was found inside the second car.

The 25-year-old Thomastown man couldn’t be revived and sadly died on the scene.

Homicide squad detective inspector, Dean Thomas, said the alleged “horrific” crime will be investigated.

“I know many will be horrified by the young age of those arrested but let me make this clear – we will be relentless in pursuing anyone responsible for this level of violence and age will be no barrier to that,” he said.

“A young man has senselessly lost his life, and a significant number of families now face a lifetime of grieving.

“A heartbroken family deserves justice, and this is a strong and demonstrable statement that for those choosing to engage in this type of violent and senseless crime, we will be relentless in our pursuit of you.”

Residents on the street told Leader in October there were some “unusual” signs at the property before the tragic incident.

A woman living across the road from the house where the death occurred said she’d noticed an unusual amount of noise coming from inside the week before.

“All the windows in the front of the house … they’d been smashed,” she said.

Other residents also said they were trapped inside their homes as police remained on the scene after the alleged attack.

John, who has lived on Timor Parade for 70 years, said he’d stepped out of his home that afternoon to see what had happened but was ordered by police to remain inside.

“I didn’t know what was going on … I’d just heard a helicopter up above,” he said.

Anyone with information is urge to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to submit an online report.