Julian Savannah charged with murdering Hugh Brannan in South Melbourne

A 31-year-old man has fronted court charged with murder after a 30-year-old man was killed during a home invasion at a block of units.

Hugh Brannan was killed during a home invasion in South Melbourne.

A man has faced court charged with the stabbing murder of Hugh Brannan during a home invasion in South Melbourne.

Julian Savannah, 31, also from South Melbourne, was brought into the dock of Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday afternoon.

The court heard Mr Brannan, 30, died from multiple stab wounds but a forensic pathology report would be prepared to determine an exact cause of death.

Police were given 12 weeks to prepare a brief of evidence, six weeks longer than the usual allocation, to allow time for the report to be compiled.

Julian Savannah, 31, faced court on Monday.

Extra time was also sought for DNA and mobile phone analysis.

In court documents, police allege Mr Savannah attended Mr Brannan’s Iffla St unit with two male associates just after 7pm on Friday.

A physical altercation allegedly took place in which Mr Brannan was repeatedly stabbed.

He was found with serious injuries just before 7.30pm and died at the scene.

Wearing a black Nike t-shirt, Mr Savannah was silent during the brief administrative hearing.

He was remanded in custody to reappear in court on April 7.

‘Terrorised our area’: Victim had violent, criminal past

The man killed at a South Melbourne block of units on Friday had an extensive and violent criminal past.

Hugh Brannan, 30, was killed during a home invasion at the Iffla St unit he had been temporarily living in just after 7.30pm.

It is still not known how Brannan was killed but there were reportedly up to four offenders involved.

Brannan’s friends and associates were on Saturday quick to offer condolences and tributes but several Port and South Melbourne locals have since come forward.

Hugh Brannan had a violent criminal past before his death on Friday. Picture: Supplied

His shocking criminal past, which includes violent crime sprees of stealing cars, threatening to kill and assaulting police, can also be revealed.

Court records show Brannan served time behind bars for a crime “spree” in 2016 after he pleaded guilty to a raft of offences.

He would plead guilty to 22 counts of theft, armed robbery, three counts of arson, threatening to kill and assaulting an emergency services worker.

Brannan admitted to stealing or attempting to steal 12 cars and one motorised scooter and admitted to three counts of arson, in which he torched the vehicles he stole.

April 2 in 2016 was described as a “day of high criminal activity” where he used a baseball bat to smash a car up before threatening to kill a security guard.

Brannan was doing burnouts at Albert Park before he told the guard he and his co-offender would “kill you all”, chasing and bashing him.

He then told a police officer he wanted to fight him before he was finally taken into custody again.

Brannan was also frequently the subject of social media posts within online community groups warning others of his violent actions.

Hugh Brannan was killed in South Melbourne. Picture: Supplied

One Port Melbourne resident told the Herald Sun Brannan was a dangerous man.

“He has taunted and threatened to kill many in Port Melbourne as locals walked in their beautiful local community,” she said.

“He has been in and out of jail for years and was a main culprit of many crimes in Port Melbourne.

“I will be toasting a (glass of) champagne tonight as the world is a better place without him in it.

“I no doubt speak on behalf of most of the community here. Good people just don’t get murdered.”

Fellow Port Melbourne resident Andrea said he “terrorised” the community.

“He terrorised our area and the people who live here for a long time. He was scary. Me and my family members had a number of encounters,” she said.

Another local said: “He didn’t deserve to have his life taken away, but there is likely more to this story than an ordinary person having their life tragically cut short.”