Man who was charged over brutal Melbourne CBD murder tried to hand himself into a police station during three day manhunt but it was closed because of coronavirus
- Marco Deng, 22, allegedly stabbed Machar Kot, 21, to death on Monday morning
- Deng fled the scene in Melbourne’s CBD and sparked a three-day long manhunt
- He tried to turn himself in to a west Melbourne police station and found it closed
- The station was shut due to COVID-19 and Deng then went to a medical centre
- He was arrested on Thursday morning and charged with Mr Kot’s murder
A man charged over a stabbing murder in Melbourne’s CBD tried to hand himself in to police, only to find the station he had attended was closed due to COVID-19.
Marco Deng, 22, was arrested on Thursday and charged over the alleged stabbing of Machar Kot, 21, outside a hotel on Market Street about 5am on Monday.
Deng fled the scene of the attack and was only found after handing himself in during a massive three-day police manhunt, The Herald Sun reported.
Marco Deng (pictured), 22, was arrested on Thursday and charged with murder over the fatal stabbing of Machar Kot, 21, on Market Street in Melbourne’s CBD on Monday morning
Deng tried to turn himself in to Caroline Springs police station (pictured) on Thursday morning and found it was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic
The 22-year-old went to Caroline Springs, a coronavirus affected suburb in Melbourne’s west, with the intention of turning himself in on Thursday morning.
But Deng found the police station there closed because of the pandemic and left to a nearby medical centre.
The centre contacted police and Deng, from neighbouring suburb Burnside Heights, was arrested shortly after.
Deng faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday where prosecutors asked for longer than normal to put together the evidence against him.
Prosecutors argued that the days spent searching for Deng put the investigation ‘a little bit behind’.
Deng is due to return to Melbourne Magistrates Court on October 16 for a committal mention.
Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia a number of police station counters have closed to stop unnecessary face-to-face contacts.
The spokesperson said members of the public can speak to officers in the station through an intercom or a contact number.
Mr Kot, from Kurunjang, was allegedly stabbed after violence broke out in front of the Oaks Melbourne hotel on Monday morning.
He was treated at the scene and later died at Royal Melbourne hospital.
Pictured: Mr Kot was allegedly stabbed around 5am outside the Oaks Melbourne hotel
Mr Kot (pictured) was treated at the scene and later died at Royal Melbourne hospital
Police believe Mr Kot and Mr Deng were known to each other and are continuing the investigation into the 21-year-old’s death.
Deng also appeared at Melbourne Magistrates court the day before he allegedly stabbed Mr Kot.
He pleaded guilty to offences including possessing cannabis and shop theft and was fined $650.
Deng was released on an adjourned undertaking of one year and was warned by the court to ‘be of good behaviour’.
Mr Kot’s father on Wednesday said the loss of his son was hurting their family and the wider community.
‘He was a big leader in the community as well as the family. He was a role model,’ he told the Seven Network on Wednesday.
The grieving father said he told his children to mourn for their brother peacefully.
‘I told my children to mourn for their brother peacefully because we don’t want any chaos in our community,’ he said.
Mr Kot’s (pictured) father said the loss of his son was hurting the wider community