A homeless man who tattoos his body has been charged with stabbing a father-of-three to death on a Melbourne wharf.
Forrest Stevenson, 36, has been charged with murder after Andres Malmis Pancha, 45, was allegedly killed on Frankston wharf at 6am on Saturday.
Police were called to the scene following reports of an assault when they found Mr Pancha unconscious.
Stevenson was arrested on the nearby beach shortly after the alleged attack.
Police said the two men do not know each other.
Stevenson has no fixed address and promotes himself on social media as an amateur artist who tattoos his own body.
He appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Sunday wearing a disposable face mask and a black T-shirt. Herald of the sun reported.
Stevenson followed the court proceedings closely and seemed lucid.
Forrest Stevenson, 36 (pictured), has been charged with murder after Andres Malmis Pancha, 45, was allegedly murdered on Frankston pier at 6am on Saturday.
Police were called to the scene following reports of an assault when they found Mr Pancha (pictured) unconscious.
Homicide squad lead detective Kate Lynch told the court police needed 12 weeks to compile a summary of evidence.
The process normally takes six weeks, but the court was told an extension was needed to complete pathology reports and DNA testing.
Stevenson was remanded in custody until November 6.
Magistrate Marc Sargent told the court the defendant needed immediate medical attention to make his custody “more comfortable”.
“The nurse will see you as soon as possible today,” he told Stevenson.
Frankston City Council Mayor Nathan Conroy shared his condolences with Mr Pancha’s family.
“Frankston is a peaceful, vibrant and inclusive community,” Mr. Conroy said.
“My thoughts are with the victim’s family.”
Acting Prime Minister Ben Carroll added: “My heart goes out to that man and his family.”
‘There were many passersby who also witnessed it and my thoughts are with them too.
When police arrived, officers found an unconscious man approximately halfway across the dock, who died shortly after.
‘It is a very difficult moment. “Someone who literally just went out doing a recreational activity that they love and enjoy (fishing) and having a death is really, really sad.”
Glenn Cooper, who runs the peninsula-based charity That’s The Thing About Fishing, described Pancha’s death as devastating.
“He was always happy and my volunteers would talk to him while he was fishing,” she said.
‘He will be missed as a regular at Frankston Pier.
“He would go fishing there (at the pier) at least once or twice a week. It’s a terrible loss.”
Mr. Pancha was a Filipino father of three children.
