Woman dies in Melbourne ‘party tower’

Dispute between two groups of African Australian youths ends in tragedy at Melbourne rental apartment as police tell of ‘chaos’.

Police investigate the death scene at the EQ Arcade building on A'Beckett Street in Melbourne on Saturday. Picture: AAP

A disagreement between two groups of African Australian youths has ended tragically in the death of a young woman at a short-term stay apartment in Melbourne’s CBD.

Police told reporters on Saturday they are interviewing 12 people involved in the party where the 19-year-old was assaulted and later died from her wounds.

Commander Tim Hansen told reporters at Saturday briefing that a group of young people had rented the 56th floor of the EQ Tower apartment on A’Beckett Street and then a second group had turned up.

Police arrived shortly after 5am to a “fairly chaotic scene” because many people were “upset” and “emotive”, Comm Hansen said.

The party was held on the 56th floor of the EQ Tower. Picture: Nicole Garmston

He said a “dispute of some nature” had led to the woman’s injuries and despite the best efforts of paramedics, she died at the scene.

Commander Tim Hansen said police were providing support to the 19 year-old’s family and to the wider African Australian community, of which she, and both groups of youths, were members.

Investigators cannot confirm whether the two groups of youths knew each other or what had brought them together, he said.

He would also not confirm reports the teen was stabbed to death, or detail the nature of her injuries, citing the need for police to keep details under wraps until the investigation had run its course.

Police at the apartment scene. Picture: Nicole Garmston

A Frenchman told reporters he saw about 15 young people “running and yelling” in the vicinity of an apartment block on Friday night not long before the woman died.

He said at the beginning of the night he saw a few girls in the lobby of the EQ Tower and later, about 4am or 5am, he saw young men outside the building running around and yelling.

“It was weird,” he said.

Police are still investigating the circumstances that led to the woman’s death.

AAP