A Mornington man charged with manslaughter is among eight people accused over the fatal stabbing of 24-year-old Lino Atem in Wyndham Vale, in Melbourne’s west.
The 18-year-old Mornington man was among seven people arrested and charged by Victoria Police on Wednesday, 21 October 2026. An eighth man was charged the following day.
The arrests follow an extensive Homicide Squad investigation into Mr Atem’s death in January 2025, including police raids involving more than 160 detectives.
Fatal Wyndham Vale Stabbing in January 2025
Emergency services were called to reports of a fight involving a group of men at a park on Haines Drive, near Ribblesdale Avenue, about 11.30pm on Friday, 10 January 2025.
According to Victoria Police, Mr Atem was at the park with friends when another group confronted them.
During the altercation, Mr Atem was fatally stabbed. Despite receiving medical treatment, he died at the scene.
Two other men, both aged 27 and from Wyndham Vale, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to hospital.
ABC News reported that a children’s court heard Mr Atem had allegedly been stabbed 26 times during the attack.
Mornington Man Among Eight Charged With Manslaughter
Homicide Squad detectives, assisted by the VIPER Taskforce, arrested seven people across Melbourne on Wednesday, 21 October.
Those charged include:
- An 18-year-old man from Mornington.
- An 18-year-old man from Taylors Hill.
- A 20-year-old man from Melton South.
- A 21-year-old man from Hoppers Crossing.
- Three 17-year-old boys from the Melton, Brimbank and Wyndham areas.
All seven were charged with manslaughter.
On Thursday, 22 October, police arrested a 23-year-old Hoppers Crossing man in Gisborne.
He was subsequently charged with manslaughter, bringing the total number of accused to eight.
The additional charge was confirmed in a subsequent Victoria Police statement.
Police Investigation Involved More Than 160 Detectives
The charges follow an extensive investigation involving officers from the Homicide Squad, Crime Command and North-West Metro Region.
In March 2025, detectives executed 15 search warrants and arrested 13 people as part of the investigation.
More than 160 detectives were involved in the operation.
All 13 people arrested at the time were interviewed and released pending further enquiries.
Victim’s Brother Killed in Separate Incident
Mr Atem’s death followed the killing of his brother, Atem Atem, at the family’s Wyndham Vale home in February 2023.
Victoria Police said there was no evidence indicating the two deaths were connected.
The manslaughter charges against the eight accused remain subject to court proceedings.
All accused are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Related: Langwarrin Stabbing: Three Teens Charged With Gross Violence Offence
