A man fatally injured during an alleged street fight has been remembered by devastated friends and loved ones as a “wonderful human being” and one of a kind as his accused attacker appeared in court for the first time.
Emergency services were called to Alamein Road in Heidelberg West, in Melbourne’s northeast, shortly before midnight on Saturday following reports of an altercation between two men.
Ali Chaaban, 49, of Heidelberg West, was found at the scene with life-threatening head injuries and later died in hospital.
Daniel Devlin, 40, was arrested at the scene and charged with murder.
News of Chaaban’s death sparked an outpouring of heartbreaking tributes online and on his Facebook profile.
Tributes have flown for Ali Chaaban, 49 (pictured), after he died from serious head injuries allegedly sustained during a street fight in Melbourne’s northwest on Saturday night.
A colleague was “distraught and heartbroken” to hear of Mr Chaaban’s tragic death.
“We all grew up together and went down different paths in life, but we always stayed in touch,” she posted.
“I can’t believe I can’t talk to you or text you about football anymore…your fancy pigeons or just check up on how things are going.”
“You’ve always been a positive soul and if you ever needed help, you’d be the first one there.”
Another friend described Mr Chaaban as an “unforgettable soul and I am grateful to have been lucky enough to have his presence in my life.”
“You are such a special person and there aren’t many people like you in this world,” they wrote.
A third wrote: “Thank you for everything you have done for all of us children over the years and for making our childhood so much fun.”
“I’m so grateful to have you in my life because there really was no one like you.”
Police arrested Daniel Devlin, 40, believed to be an acquaintance of Chaaban (pictured), at the scene and charged him with murder.
Devlin appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Sunday.
His defense lawyer, Nadia Giorgianni, revealed that her client was quitting heroin and had a brain injury.
“You have been asked to see a nurse or doctor (in custody) as soon as possible,” Ms Giorgianni told the court, according to the Herald of the sun.
Police allege Devlin and Chaaban knew each other.
He was remanded in custody to reappear in court on October 21.
