A man has been charged with the murder of a young plumber described as the ‘class clown’ who was allegedly stabbed to death in Melbourne on Saturday night.
Liam Cahill, 22, was celebrating a friend’s birthday at a party on the 15th floor of the M Docklands high-rise on La Trobe Street when a fight erupted at about 10.30pm between Mr Cahill and his alleged killer.
The noise of the altercation could be heard throughout the building, with one resident telling of their fear when they heard a young woman screaming.
Liam Cahill (pictured left) a popular young apprentice plumber from Pascoe Vale, Melbourne, was allegedly stabbed to death on Saturday night in front of horrified partygoers
‘It was so loud we thought it was on our floor, but I think it was downstairs,’ the resident told the Herald Sun.
‘It was terrifying.’
The fight was heard by another resident, Rocky Petrelli, who lives in a 14th floor apartment below.
‘It was just really noisy, it was like there was elephants stomping the ground in the apartment above, that’s what I could hear below,’ Mr Petrelli told Seven News.
The apprentice plumber from Pascoe Vale in Melbourne’s north was allegedly stabbed several times before his accused killer fled, climbing down two balconies on the side of the building in a desperate bid to escape.
One of the apartments he’s accused of trying to break into during his alleged escape bid was Mr Petrelli’s.
‘It’s pretty scary that you think that it’s a safe building especially when you’re on the 14th floor and you’ve got someone jumping balconies to try and escape the building,’ Mr Petrelli said.
He was unsuccessful, and climbed down another balcony to the 13th floor where he ran through an unlocked apartment in his bid for freedom.
A suspect was tackled and arrested by police a short distance from the scene. The suspect can be seen in CCTV footage lying on the ground in a corridor behind a stack of toilet rolls
Detectives leave the M Docklands high-rise at 677 La Trobe street, Melbourne with bags of evidence on Sunday after the alleged stabbing murder of 22-year-old Liam Cahill
The suspect was tackled to the ground by police a short distance away.
Mr Cahill was given first aid by another resident of the building, but couldn’t be saved.
The alleged murder traumatised the other party guests who had to be comforted by police at the scene.
‘Why did you do this to me?’ screamed a woman at the scene.
A young woman with bright red hair was seen screaming in the lobby, falling to her knees in distress before being comforted by police and led away.
Close friend Macayla Dickson wept as she described Mr Cahill’s generous spirit. Pictured: Liam Cahill (left) and Macayla Dickson (right)
Liam Cahill (pictured right) enjoying the ocean last year. The young apprentice plumber loved life and brought joy to many people with his fun-loving sense of humour
A distraught red-haired woman was comforted by emergency services and led away on Saturday night after the alleged stabbing
Liam Cahill (left) was allegedly stabbed to death on Saturday after an alleged fight at a party on the 15th floor of the M Docklands, Melbourne. Pictured with close friend Macayla Dickson.
Liam Cahill (left) being cheeky with the lads. His many friends poured out messages of grief on social media, saying they would never forget him, and they would cherish their memories
Police and emergency services swarmed the building at about 11pm, arresting a suspect.
Police could be seen leading young people sobbing with grief from the building.
Mr Cahill’s friends took to social media to leave tributes for him, saying how much they loved the popular young tradesman.
‘I will love you forever brother, I am going to miss you everyday. Thank you for every single memory together,’ wrote one friend on Facebook.
Forensics teams scoured the apartment building on Sunday
Macayla Dickson (pictured left) said close friend Liam Cahill (right) was like the ‘class clown’ and would make everybody laugh
Close friend Macayla Dickson wept as she described Mr Cahill’s sense of humour.
‘He was just the best person. Just always had a laugh and always the class clown and just had his heart out for everyone,’ she told Nine News.
Mr Dickson wrote on social media: Waking up seeing all these posts praying to God it’s all a joke. I am so grateful for having the pleasure of being in your life. I love you and I hope you’re at peace now… forever be in my heart.’
Homicide and forensics investigators scoured the building on Saturday, carrying away bags of evidence.
Police charged a 22-year-old man from Williamstown in Melbourne’s southwest with murder on Sunday.
He will face Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday.