Murder charge laid against stepson of Hillside man allegedly stabbed to death

A man who was shot by police after his stepfather was allegedly stabbed to death in his Hillside home has been charged with murder.

A man has been charged with murder following a Hillside stabbing. Picture: Joel Carrett

The stepson of a man stabbed to death before police shot the alleged attacker has been charged with murder.

Hillside man Tony Di Falco, 61, was found unresponsive on the front lawn of his Chris Court home about 6.50am on October 4.

Police were then confronted with Mr Di Falco’s stepson, Mehmet Bertan, who was allegedly armed with a knife.

Officers attempted to negotiate with him but he made several advancements toward police who were forced to fire “several shots” at the alleged attacker.

Tony Di Falco was allegedly stabbed to death at his Chris Court home in Hillside.

The 32-year-old Preston man was taken into custody and was this week in a stable condition at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

He was on Friday morning charged with Mr Di Falco’s murder and made a brief virtual appearance in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.

Dressed in a white hospital gown, Mr Bertan appeared on videolink from his hospital bed.

No details of the alleged murder were heard.

Mr Bertan was remanded to reappear in court on January 31 next year.

“He remains in hospital and a bedside remand hearing is expected to be facilitated this afternoon,” police said in a statement.

Police defended their use of firearms on the accused murderer, who lives with a psychiatric disorder and a history of mental health issues.

Mr Di Falco’s stepdaughter, who is heavily pregnant, called police and witnessed the horrific stabbing attack before fleeing through the home’s back door.

Police said she was physically unharmed but was taken to hospital as a precaution.