Charge upgraded to murder after fatal street assault

A man accused of a violent street assault is now facing a murder charge days after his alleged victim died in hospital.

The man accused of a deadly assault on a Melbourne photographer has been charged with murder.

Lominja Friday Yokoju, 42, was originally charged with assault causing serious injury, but his charge was upgraded days after the alleged victim died in hospital.

“Homicide squad detectives have today charged a man with murder following a fatal alleged assault in Footscray earlier this month,” Victoria Police said in a statement.

Veteran photographer Dominic O’Brien, 62, died on June 21, almost a week after he was allegedly attacked at the intersection of Nicholson and Paisley streets in Footscray on the morning of June 15.

Dominic O'Brien has been identified as the victim of an alleged assault. Picture: Facebook

Police arrested Mr Yokoju on the same day as the alleged assault.

He is accused of approaching Mr O’Brien, engaging in a brief conversation, then striking him and stomping on his head as he lay on the ground.

Mr O’Brien was a respected photographer who worked with major publications including The Australian and The Age, The Herald Sun reported.

He also contributed to The Daily Telegraph, The Sydney Morning Herald, Mushroom Records, AAP, and Getty Images and spent a significant period working with Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory.

Mr Yokoju was remanded in custody and will front Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on October 20.

Originally published as Charge upgraded to murder after fatal street assault