Fatal St Albans bashing followed road rage assault, police say
The brutal killing of a man on a suburban street outside a primary school in Melbourne's north-west has been to linked to a road rage assault and theft that happened two hours earlier.
Horrified onlookers watched on helplessly as the 24-year-old Werribee man was bashed and attacked with weapons on Fox Street in St Albans, outside St Paul's Kealba Catholic School, on Thursday evening.
The scene of the fatal attack on Fox Street, near Sunshine Avenue, on Thursday evening.Credit:Nine News
The three accused killers, Jonathan Fuatavai, Nathan Timoteo and Josaia Bolalaolai, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court at 1pm on Friday, each charged with one count of murder.
Police said three witnesses had provided evidence and asked for 12 weeks to prepare CCTV footage, complete forensic reports and download information from the accused men's phones.
Homicide detectives revealed the fatal attack is linked to an alleged road rage incident and theft that occurred about one kilometre away.
"Investigators have established that the fatal assault is linked to an earlier alleged road rage, assault and theft incident which occurred about 4pm [Thursday] in Walter Street, St Albans," a police spokeswoman said.
Jonathan Fuatavai is one of three men who have each been charged with one court of murder.
Detectives have tracked down CCTV of the road rage incident, as well as the fatal attack, which shows a number of witnesses standing at the scene and motorists who drove past at the time.
Police would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the road rage incident at 4pm in Walter Street or the fatal assault at 6pm on Fox Street, including anyone who may have dashcam or mobile phone footage.
Resident Damian told the Leader newspaper at least one of the alleged killers live nearby on Fox Street.
"I came out, there was screaming, yelling, fighting, it wasn’t good," he said.
A man is arrested at the scene.Credit:Nine News
"I saw weapons, I didn’t hang around, I rang triple zero."
Ambulance paramedics were called to the scene about 6pm but could not save the 24-year-old victim.
St Paul’s Keabla Catholic School was closed on Friday as police continued to scour the scene.
Principal Denis Daly sent an alert to parents on Thursday night confirming no one from the school community had been involved in the incident, but access to the school had been blocked off.
Police at the scene of the fatal attack on Thursday.Credit:Nine News
"I write to inform you of a fatality outside Gate 1 of the school at 6pm. No one from the St Paul's community was involved and all staff are safe," he wrote.
"As the site is still a major crime scene and likely to remain so throughout the night and into tomorrow [Friday] morning, there is no access to the school. The major crimes squad and the homicide division of Victoria Police have secured the site, with no access possible.
"School will resume on Monday, February 24 at the usual time ... We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause and hope that you can understand that the matter is beyond our control."
The childcare centre, Cradles to Crayons Early Learning Centre, was also closed on Friday and will reopen as normal from Monday.
"No staff, children or families from Cradles to Crayons was directly involved and all are safe," the centre said in an alert to parents.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
with AAP