>
A young bodybuilder who died during his arrest was allegedly restrained by police for a “considerable amount of time.”
Joel Grech, 24, died in Craigieburn, north Melbourne, on Wednesday afternoon after being stopped on the pavement while resisting arrest for a savage attack on an elderly man, aged 72.
Witnesses claim that Grech was lying face down with the arresting officers “kneeling on his back for some time.”
Dashcam images obtained by channel 9 it showed the frantic moment as paramedics worked to try to revive Grech.
In a statement on Friday, a Victoria Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia officers from its Professional Standards Command that they had launched an investigation into the death “as is standard practice”.
Joel Grech allegedly attacked an elderly man and his son before dying on the sidewalk while being pulled over by police
Paramedics are working to revive Grech, who was reportedly immobilized for “a considerable amount of time” during his arrest.
“The inquest into the death of a 24-year-old man in Craigieburn on February 15 is ongoing,” it said.
“The investigation will examine the full timeline of the man’s movements that afternoon, including his interactions with the public and police.”
Daily Mail Australia suggests that the officers’ actions contributed to his death.
It can be revealed that Grech attacked the Craigieburn man, 72, after he caught him breaking into his car.
But in a bizarre twist, the old man and his 33-year-old son were later arrested at the scene on suspicion of murdering Grech.
High-profile criminal lawyer George Balot, of Balot Reilly Criminal Lawyers, told Daily Mail Australia that Grech had knocked the 72-year-old unconscious before his son came to his aid.
Balot was called in to represent the men after they were turned over to Homicide Squad detectives.
The men, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals from Grech’s associates, said the burly Grech barely flinched after the man’s son, who had come to his father’s aid, hit him in the shoulder with bat.
“My client is an elderly member of the salt-of-the-earth family in his 70s who was trying to protect his property from a ruthless, burly, muscular young man who was trying to break his car window with a gun in broad daylight in a quiet suburban street,’ Mr Balot told Daily Mail Australia.
Joel Grech, 24, died on the sidewalk after assaulting an elderly man and his son
Forensic Police go to the place where Joel Grech died on Wednesday
Balot said the elderly father confronted Grech before he was beaten. unconscious and suffering shocking injuries.
“His son came to his defense after seeing his elderly father unconscious and punched the assailant in the shoulder, which had no effect on the stocky and relentless assailant,” Balot said.
The attorney claimed that Grech assaulted the man’s son before fleeing the scene.
Balot said witnesses to Grech’s arrest after the attack said officers held him face down on the sidewalk for considerable time.
“There are reports of aggressive resistance by (Grech) and the arresting police knelt on his back for some time,” Balot said.
There are also several reports that he had previously been assaulted at a different location by people known to him.
Cannot speculate on cause of death.
Neighbor Paul Townsend-Booth told reporters that he saw Grech staggering down the street.
“He had a scratch mark on his forehead and he started walking in the middle of the road,” he said.
“It looked like he was under the influence of something.”
Joel Grech died after attacking an elderly man and his son in Melbourne on Wednesday
Balot said a postmortem autopsy together with CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts would likely reveal Grech’s cause of death.
My client has been interviewed and sensibly released by the homicide squad without charge. Both he and his family wish to express their condolences to the family of the deceased,” Mr. Balot said.
On Friday, tributes continued to flow for the dead bodybuilder.
“I am completely heartbroken to hear that we have lost you,” his cousin posted on social media.
‘You were always looking for me, friend, at every heavy metal concert and festival, you stood out and found me. We always promised each other that we would have a tattooed cousin photo shoot, but your life has been cut short in the most horrible way.
‘What you accomplished in your bodybuilding career was so admirable mate, I hate that God chose to take you when you had so much potential. I hate not seeing my cousin at the next metal concert, that we’ll never get to do our photo shoot, that they won’t send me links to the latest metal song or Parkway Drive concert anymore, I hate it. that your mom has to say goodbye to you, but she comforts me knowing that you will be with your dad again.’
Anyone with any further information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au