Stabbing murder charge

By Rebecca Fraser
AN ELDERLY couple was stabbed to death in Hallam on Tuesday after a domestic dispute.
The husband and wife died on the front lawn of a Pauline Court home after being stabbed several times.
Their 46-year-old son-in-law, Sarath Hettiarachchi, was arrested in Oakleigh about 7.40pm on Tuesday following the incident.
He has since been charged with their murder.
Mr Hettiarachchi appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court yesterday morning (Wednesday) and has been remanded in custody to appear again on Wednesday, 12 July.
Homicide Squad detectives attended and police said the dispute occurred both inside the house and around the verandah area.
Police said the deceased’s daughter and at least one child were present during the altercation.
A police helicopter was called in after the incident to search the area.
Police from Endeavour Hills and Narre Warren assisted with the search.
A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Ambulance Service said paramedics had worked for some time to try to save the couple.
She said three road ambulance crews attended and an air ambulance was called, but this was subsequently cancelled following the couple’s death.
“Paramedics attended at 12.40pm and when they arrived the woman and man were both in a critical condition.
“Paramedics worked for 40 minutes, but despite their efforts, unfortunately, they died,” she said.
The latest stabbing came just one day after a 16-year-old Endeavour Hills boy appeared at Melbourne Children’s Court to face charges of intentionally and recklessly causing serious injury.
The teenager was arrested near Ferntree Gully Railway Station about 10.30pm on Saturday following a stabbing in the station carpark.
Police said there was an altercation between a 22-year-old Chadstone man and a youth about 9.30pm.
They said they believed the man and youth knew one another.
The Chadstone man was stabbed in the chest and arm.
He was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital where he was admitted and treated for non-life-threatening wounds.
The youth was remanded in custody on Monday, and will next appear for a mention at the Melbourne Children’s Court on Tuesday, 14 March.