Alleged machete-wielding teen granted bail after servo attack in Melbourne’s west

A St Albans teen who police claim was seen on CCTV brandishing a machete before punching two men has been granted bail.

Mutaz Faid, 18 was granted bail in Sunshine Magistrates' Court on Friday and will re-appear in May.

Two men are suffering from nightmares and are fearful of leaving their homes, police say, after an unprovoked attack involving a machete near a service station that left them both hospitalised.

Mutaz Faid, 18, was granted bail after being charged for his alleged involvement in an attack near a 7-11 in Melbourne’s west last December.

Police say CCTV footage identifies Faid and his vehicle, however, it is understood the defence will challenge that evidence.

It is alleged that Faid and his co-accused arrived at a Kings Park service station at 11pm on December 22 and spotted two men pushing a couch on a removalist trolley before laughing at them.

One of the men then yelled “this is what it’s like to be on Centrelink” before continuing to push the trolley towards the Kings Park shopping precinct.

It is alleged Faid and his co-accused followed the two men and began a verbal altercation before Faid revealed a machete and said “I’ll kill you, you f---ing dog”.

Faid will reappear at Sunshine Magistrates Court on May 17 after he was granted bail. Picture: Ellen Smith

Police claim one of the victims attempted to push the weapon away and said “fight me like a man” before Faid allegedly punched him in the face while the co-accused continued to display the weapon.

The man lost consciousness after hitting his head on the ground.

Police say the second victim refused to engage with the pair before Faid allegedly punched him in the face causing him to lose balance.

Police further allege that while the second man was falling to the ground, Faid’s 16-year-old co-accused swung the machete at his back causing a deep laceration.

One victim spent 36 hours in hospital and underwent an operation to receive plastic surgery, including 14 stitches to his back, and the second man was also hospitalised and received four stitches on his head.

CCTV footage captures the alleged offenders, who police say are Faid and his co-accused, during the altercation.

Magistrate Kimberley Swadesir said she agreed with prosecution that “without doubt it was very serious offending” involving an unprovoked attack on unknown people that resulted in serious injuries.

Magistrate Swadesir said she also had to consider the strength of the evidence, which at the time of the bail application relied on identification by a police member, and therefore was considered “nil evidence”.

Faid was granted bail under strict conditions and will reappear in Sunshine Magistrates Court on May 17.