A 45-year-old Cranbourne North man who was allegedly stabbed in an unprovoked attack on Saturday has been revealed to be Filipino father-of-three Andres Pancha.
Mr Pancha was fishing on the Frankston pier in the early hours of Saturday morning when he was targeted in what a witness described as a random unprovoked attack.
Police have charged 36-year-old homeless man and self-proclaimed artist Forrest Stevenson with murder over the incident.
A traumatised witness told the Herald Sun he saw the unprovoked ambush just before dawn on Saturday.
The outlet was told the fisherman was randomly targeted and it seemed the attacker intended to kill the first person he saw.
“He (came) to kill,” the witness said.
“He didn’t come here just to let out some anger or fight … he knew what he wanted to do before he even got here.
“He just walked up, killed him and walked off.”
The witness said there was no argument or talking, and the fisherman did not “stand a chance”.
He said he checked on the 45-year-old victim before calling police and chasing down the attacker.
Victoria Police confirmed the attacker and the victim did not know each other.
Acting Premier Ben Carroll described the stabbing as an “incredibly harrowing incident” as he offered his condolences to Mr Pancha’s family.
“My heart goes out to that man and his family,” Mr Carroll said.
“This is a horrific crime that has occurred…. 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.
It is understood that family and friends of Mr Pancha gathered at his family home in Cranbourne North on Sunday to grieve for their loved one.
A friend of the deceased father-of-three told the Herald Sun the family were “too distraught” to speak to the media and were awaiting the outcome of the police investigation.
The alleged murderer appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Sunday, with police telling the court they would need 12 weeks to compile a brief of evidence in the case.
Mr Stevenson has been remanded in custody until November 6they would need 12 weeks to compile a brief of evidence in the case.