Brothers who sparked manhunt face court over death of Indian student
Two brothers who sparked an interstate manhunt after a deadly house party in Melbourne’s southeast have faced court as one was accused of murder and the other granted bail.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Two brothers charged over a deadly stabbing at a boozy Ormond house party have faced court, as one was accused of murder and the other was granted bail.
Robin Robin, previously known as Robin Gartan, 27, has been charged with murder over the stabbing death of student Navjeet Sandhu, 22, and the attempted murder of another victim, aged 30, on May 5.
Meanwhile, his younger brother Abhijeet Abhijeet, 26, charged with affray by using unlawful violence, was granted bail under strict conditions he not leave the state of Victoria.
The pair sparked an interstate manhunt following the deadly house party at the weekend.
They were arrested in Goulburn just two days later, and extradited back to Victoria this week.
The Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday heard that both men, who each required an interpreter as English is their second language, had no criminal records and were in custody for the first time.
Mr Abhijeet, an UberEats driver, was granted bail after prosecutors conceded his risk of failing to surrender into custody could be managed by reporting to a police station twice a week.
His brother Mr Robin, who walked into the dock wearing an orange T-shirt, was remanded in custody, where he asked to see a nurse because he sometimes has chest pains.
Prosecutors asked for double the time – from 6 weeks to 12 – to serve their brief of evidence on the defence in Mr Robin’s case because CCTV needed to be collected from Victoria and NSW and witness statements and his record of interview needed to be translated into English.
Police also needed to contact witnesses overseas, while a pathology report and phone analysis needed to be completed.
The extended time was granted, given it was a “more realistic time frame for service of the brief”.
Both men were both ordered to reappear in court for a committal mention on September 10.
More Coverage
Man shot in early morning attack in Melbourne’s CBD
A man has been found with a gunshot wound on Collins St following an early morning shooting.
Woman shot by police after alleged crime spree wins freedom
A woman who was shot by police in Noble Park after allegedly holding a gun to her boyfriend’s head following a two-day crime spree has been bailed as a court heard she feared for her safety if she did not follow his orders.