Arabic version: توجيه اتهامات إلى سبعة أشخاص بشأن هجوم مزعوم أودى بحياة لينو أتيم

According to ABC News, three boys and four men have been charged with manslaughter over an alleged attack that killed 24-year-old Lino Atem at a Wyndham Vale reserve in January 2025. The charges were laid nearly two years after his death.

A children’s court heard that Mr Atem was allegedly stabbed 26 times while he was drinking and listening to music with friends at a reserve on Haines Drive on January 10 last year. Prosecutors alleged 18 youths entered the park with weapons as Mr Atem’s group was preparing to leave, attacked the group and then fled in cars.

Mr Atem died at the scene. A friend and one of his brothers were also injured. Police had previously said they believed the alleged “ferocious” and “targeted” ambush may have been a case of mistaken identity.

The accused include three 17-year-old boys and four men: two aged 18, one aged 20 and one aged 21. Prosecutors told the court they would examine DNA found on a machete recovered at the scene and on a beer bottle inside a car connected to the accused young men. The court also heard that CCTV footage and clothing items would be central to the case.

Some DNA from the scene was said to match one co-accused, while another co-accused was on bail for unrelated drug offences. Two of the 17-year-old boys are expected to apply for bail on Thursday. Prosecutors said additional suspects had not been ruled out and the investigation was continuing. The accused youths are due back for a committal hearing next month, while the two men aged 20 and 21 were due to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court later on Wednesday.