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A homeless man who tattoos his own body has been accused of stabbing a father-of-three to death at a Melbourne pier.
Forrest Stevenson, 36, has been charged with murder after Andres Malmis Pancha, 45, was allegedly killed at Frankston pier at 6am on Saturday.
Police were called to the site after reports of an assault when they found Mr Pancha unresponsive.
Stevenson was arrested on the nearby foreshore shortly after the alleged attack.
Police said the two men are not known to each other.
Stevenson is of no fixed address and promotes himself on social media as an amateur artist who tattoos his own body.
He appeared at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Sunday wearing a disposable face mask and black t-shirt, the Herald Sun reported.
Stevenson closely followed court proceedings and appeared lucid.
Forrest Stevenson, 36 (pictured), has been charged with murder after Andres Malmis Pancha, 45, was allegedly killed at Frankston pier at 6am on Saturday
Police were called to the site after reports of an assault when they found Mr Pancha (pictured) unresponsive.
Homicide Squad detective senior constable Kate Lynch told the court police required 12 weeks to compile a brief of evidence.
The process usually takes six weeks, but the court was told an extension was needed for pathology and DNA test reports to be completed.
Stevenson was remanded in custody until November 6.
Magistrate Marc Sargent told the court the accused needed prompt medical attention to make his custody ‘stay more comfortable’.
‘The nurse will see you as soon as possible today,’ he told Stevenson.
Frankston City Council Mayor Nathan Conroy shared his condolences for the family of Mr Pancha.
‘Frankston is a peaceful, vibrant and inclusive community,’ Mr Conroy said.
‘My thoughts are with the family of the victim.’
Acting Premier Ben Carroll added: ‘My heart goes out to that man and his family.’
‘There were many passersby that also witnessed it and my thoughts are with them as well.
When police arrived officers found a man unresponsive about halfway along the pier, who died shortly after
‘It’s a very difficult time. Someone that’s literally just gone out to do a recreational activity that they love and enjoy (fishing) and to have a death is really so sad.’
Glenn Cooper, who runs peninsula-based That’s The Thing About Fishing charity, described Mr Pancha’s death as devastating.
‘He was always happy and my volunteers would speak to him while he was fishing,’ he said.
‘He’ll be missed as a regular at the Frankston Pier.
‘He would go fishing there (the pier) at least once or twice a week, it’s a terrible loss.’
Mr Pancha was a Filipino father to three children.
