Friends mourn loss of 22-year-old tradie identified as CBD party stabbing victim
Residents of a Latrobe St highrise have revealed the horror of seeing a young man lying lifeless on the floor as his friends attempted CPR following an alleged fatal stabbing at a wild party. A 22-year-old Williamstown man has been charged with the young tradie's murder.
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A tradie allegedly stabbed to death during a wild party in a CBD high-rise has been identified as Liam Cahill.
Neighbours described seeing Mr Cahill lying lifeless on the 15th floor corridor as his friends worked frantically to perform CPR on him.
The group of young people with Mr Cahill were heard shouting out “oh my god” and “call the police”.
One man appeared to have bloodstains on his pants, a witness said.
The group had spilled out into the hallway from an apartment where they were having an Airbnb party.
A neighbour who lives on the same floor said he was preparing to go to bed about 11pm when he heard screaming and cries for help. He said multiple neighbours peered out from their doorways and watched the scene unfold.
He said Mr Cahill was originally lying face down and was unresponsive as his friends flipped him over onto his back and performed chest compressions and mouth to mouth resuscitation.
Police and paramedics were quickly there and ordered neighbours to return to close their doors and stay inside their apartments.
Another neighbour said the apartment was permanently rented out on Airbnb and was frequently used by guests who had loud parties.
Heartbroken friends have remembered the slain 22-year-old as a larrikin with a big heart.
The apprentice plumber was celebrating a friend’s birthday when he allegedly came under attack about 11pm last night.
Detectives have charged a 22-year-old Williamstown man with murder.
He will appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.
Macayla Dickson was among friends struggling to come to terms with Mr Cahill’s sudden death.
“He was the best person. Always had a laugh and was always the class clown and had his heart out for everyone,” she told 9 News.
Thousands of dollars have already been raised to help cover Mr Cahill’s funeral costs.
Police arrested a 22-year-old Williamstown man at the scene, with neighbours saying the accused scaled two balconies before fleeing through an unlocked apartment on the 13th floor.
The dangerous escape did not get him far, with police arresting him a short distance from the complex.
Homicide Squad detectives spent Sunday questioning the man.
Emergency services were called to the M Docklands apartment building on 677 La Trobe St about 11pm on Saturday.
Mr Cahill’s body was found with stab wounds on the 15th floor of the building.
A hysterical woman could be heard screaming “why did you do this to me?” after the stabbing.
Dramatic vision of the aftermath of the incident shows a young woman with bright red hair screaming in the lobby of the apartment building.
She fell to her knees with anguish and was comforted by three police officers before being led from the scene.
Another woman could be seen crying as she was led away in a police car.
Another resident told of how he and his partner were left terrified when they heard the screams of a distressed woman last night.
“We could hear a woman screaming. It was so loud we thought it was on our floor, but I think it was downstairs,” the resident said.
“It was terrifying.”
A group of young males were seen gathered outside the apartment building which was cordoned off with police tape.
Detectives left the scene at noon with several large bags of evidence after spending hours at the scene.
Police remain outside the entrance of the apartment block.
Sindhu Kotte, who lives in M Docklands with her family, said she was shocked after finding out someone had been stabbed in their building,
“I had no idea, I’m still in shock. It’s so scary,” she said.
“We go for an evening walk around 5pm or 6pm and usually we don’t come out at night.”
Another M Docklands resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said she seen a woman with red hair crying with police in the courtyard outside the apartment complex at about 12.30am as she returned from a friends house in a neighbouring apartment block.
“I didn’t realise it happened in our building – that’s terrifying,” she added.
One resident, who wished not to be named, said he noticed two cars parked suspiciously outside the complex on La Trobe Street before police started arriving at the scene shortly after 11pm.
“I remember seeing the cars and thinking it was strange that they were parked there,” he said.
“Then all the police started showing up and I realised there must be something wrong.
“I’ve lived in the building for years and it’s been a great place to live – there has never been any problems like this.”
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