Adam Bockhodt stabbed inside South Yarra apartment block

A 17-year-old accused of stabbing a man to death in South Yarra has faced court, asking a judge for medication to help him sleep.

Adam Bockhodt died in South Yarra.

A boy, 17, charged with the South Yarra stabbing murder of Adam Bockhodt has faced court and asked for medication to help him sleep.

The teenager appeared before a children’s court on Sunday night where his lawyer requested that he be seen by a GP about his prescription medication, and the Orygen mental health team over “concerns raised this evening in my discussions with (him)”.

The court heard he needed medication to assist him with sleeping.

At the beginning of the short administrative hearing, the magistrate asked the boy if he could hear the court over the video link.

“You’re a bit muffled, Your Honour, but I can hear you OK,” the teen replied.

“If there’s anything I can’t interpret properly I’ll ask for someone to repeat.”

The boy was remanded in custody overnight, to face a filing hearing at a children’s court on Monday.

Adam Bockhodt was stabbed outside his girlfriend’s apartment. Picture: Facebook

Emergency services were called to Surrey Rd about 8pm on Saturday after 34-year-old Ripponlea man Adam Bockhodt was found dead.

A friend said that Mr Bockhodt was a carer for his girlfriend who is a paraplegic and relies on a wheelchair.

One neighbour described Mr Bockhodt as a “lovely young fella”, but residents also warned that drugs were a problem in the housing commission building.

It had prompted Member for Prahran Sam Hibbins to write a letter in February on behalf of the residents to the housing minister to raise concern about behaviour in the building.

“Residents fear it is only a matter of time until someone is seriously hurt,” the letter read.

“It is apparently a common occurrence for people to congregate and drink, use drugs, fight and shout during the night, often well past midnight.

Adam was aged just 34. Picture: Facebook

“Residents have expressed that this ongoing behaviour is extremely intimidating and that they are scared to leave their apartments.”

But despite the problems in the building, resident Jeorge Gamba said he had a strong relationship with Mr Bockhodt.

“Adam was a good person,” he said.

“Many times I had conversation with this lovely young fella.

“He was always friendly, always available to say hi.

“No one ever had any complaints about him.

“I spoke to him many times and he would always say to me ‘I like you, you’re the only one who talks to me’.”

Paula Reid, who lives in a neighbouring block, said that Mr Bockhodt’s death had come as a shock.

“It’s just very sad because he’s so young,” she said.

“It’s a shock to think he’s gone forever.”

Ms Reid said that she was worried about Adam’s family.

“I know he has a child,” she said.

“I know he’s got a cat at home, I hope someone can help the cat.”

One resident in the building, who wished not to be named, spoke of the drug problem.

“There’s so many drug dealers in here, I’m not surprised by this,” he said.

“There’s two levels in here and they’re full of drug dealers

“It’s just ridiculous what’s been happening here lately, it used to be brilliant but lately there’s nothing but druggies here.”

Police investigate the stabbing death of a man in South Yarra. Picture: Regan Hodge

The resident, who has called the Surrey Rd complex home for eight years, said he told his wife she shouldn’t leave after 4pm as he fears for her safety.

“I’ve reported so many issues in here so many times to the police but you can’t blame them, they can’t keep up,” he added.

It comes two years after 62-year-old Barbara Chabaud was murdered in an apartment complex along the same road.

The 63-year-old woman was found dead inside the building on May 15 of 2021.