Accused Bellfield pharmacist killer Simon Hunter faces court over 37 unrelated charges of assault

A homeless man accused of murdering a Bellfield pharmacists has fronted court over a string of unrelated charges, including allegedly bashing a police officer.

Kum Chuan 'KC' Leong was found dead in his Bellfield townhouse with stab wounds.

A homeless man accused of killing pharmacist Kum Chuan “KC” Leong is facing dozens of other charges including threats to kill and assaulting a police officer.

Simon Hunter, 54, was charged with the murder of Mr Leong, 29, who was found dead with multiple stab wounds to his back in his Bellfield townhouse on October 23.

He faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday on 37 unrelated charges including assault and threats to kill and sexually assault.

Homeless man Simon Hunter is accused of killing the young pharmacist.

Hunter is accused of assaulting both a police officer and prison custody officer in Heidelberg.

Among the allegations is an assault against a police officer and prison custody officer in Heidelberg in August and an assault in Footscray on October 18 — six days before Mr Leong’s alleged murder.

Mr Hunter, who lives with schizophrenia and is of no fixed address, is also facing theft, robbery and weapon charges, with the alleged offending dating as far back as November 2023.

He briefly appeared in court via video link from Thomas Embling hospital on Thursday where his lawyer applied to have his case adjourned to April.

Leong graduated with a masters degree from Monash University. Picture: Facebook

He will separately face court on the murder charge in March.

Mr Leong graduated with a masters degree from Monash University less than a month before he was killed.

He had worked at Eastern Health since 2021 and was described as a “talented leader” who mentored emerging pharmacists.