Melbourne stabbings 2021: Michelle Durugh, Bless Akoch, Chris Lyons and more

Families have been left devastated, communities left stunned after the latest grisly stabbing deaths which have rocked parts of Melbourne.

Melbourne has been rocked by a series of shocking murders throughout 2021.

All violent deaths are tragic.

But something about stabbing deaths makes them seem extra cruel and violent. They leave a gruesome trail of blood and broken family and friends.

Last week, pregnant mother of two Michelle Darragh, 32, died at her former home in Huntington Ave in Bayswater North, with homicide detectives continuing to investigate her death.

Mother of two Michelle Darragh, 32, died at her former Bayswater North home on October 9 with her ex-partner, Ben Coman, taken to hospital with critical injuries., Picture: Facebook

Emergency services were called just after 7.30pm on October 9, with Ms Darragh and ex-partner Ben Coman found inside.

The couple were believed to have recently separated and Ms Darragh had been regularly visiting her sons on weekends at the Bayswater North home.

Mr Coman, was taken to hospital with critical injuries under police guard.

Here are some other fatal incidents which have sent shockwaves around the suburbs so far this year.

CHRIS TAYLOR

Arborist Chris Taylor was allegedly stabbed to death at a home he was renting in Mason Ct, Bayswater North on September 12 at 7.10am.

The alleged attacker, 42-year-old Croydon man Darryl Kennedy, was located by police opposite Bayswater North’s McDonalds restaurant on Canterbury Rd and arrested later that morning.

Police believe Mr Taylor and Mr Kennedy knew each other and investigations into the cause of the incident are continuing.

Mr Kennedy faced the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on September 12 and was charged with one count of murder.

He was remanded to face the court again on December 6.

CHRIS LYONS

Chris Lyons, right, died at Shawlands caravan park in Dandenong South on September 4.

Tragedy struck hours before Father’s Day when Chris Lyons, a father of two, was allegedly stabbed to death at a Dandenong South caravan park.

Police believe he was allegedly stabbed about 11 times and died at the scene of the Shawlands caravan park about 10pm on September 4.

A 21-year-old man and a 32-year old woman, believed to be his son and partner, also suffered minor injuries and were taken to hospital.

Police arrested and charged 25-year-old Jeremy Newell on September 6 over the alleged murder, and he made a brief court appearance on the same day.

NICHOLAS CAMERON

Nicholas Cameron died at a Southbank apartment complex on July 10.

A grisly discovery was made at a Southbank apartment block early on July 10, when the bloodied body of Nicholas Cameron’s was found lying in the carpark.

Paramedics rushed to the complex on Sturt St following reports of a man with multiple stab wounds, but the 36-year-old couldn’t be revived.

Police arrested Toolangi man Stuart Heron, 29, in a nearby lift a short time later over the alleged incident.

It was not known if Mr Heron and Mr Cameron knew each other.

Mr Heron faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court the same day for a brief hearing and was charged with murder and remanded.

A second person, a 36-year-old Melbourne woman, was arrested and charged over Mr Cameron’s death in late August.

She faced the Melbourne Magistrates’ court on August 24 and was remanded in custody to next appear on November 30.

BLESS AKOCH

Bless Mulukwat Akoch, 17, died after he was allegedly stabbed at Werribee’s Eagle Stadium. Picture: Supplied.

Melbourne’s west was left reeling in May after the shock stabbing of a 17-year-old at a Werribee basketball stadium.

Wyndham Vale’s Bless Akoch died in hospital after he was stabbed at Eagle Stadium about 6pm on May 7.

It led to an outpouring of shock and emotion from his Good News Lutheran College school community and Victoria’s Sudanese community.

Friends said the teen was “just chilling and joking around” only hours before his death.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested over the stabbing and questioned by police but later released without charge, pending further inquiries.