A homeless man who tattoos his own body has been accused of stabbing a father of three to death on a Melbourne pier.
Forrest Stevenson, 36, has been charged with murder after Andres Malmis Pancha, 45, was allegedly killed on Frankston pier at 6am on Saturday.
Police were called to the location after reports of an attack and found Mr Pancha unconscious.
Shortly after the alleged attack, Stevenson was arrested on the nearby shoreline.
According to the police, the two men are not known to each other.
Stevenson has no fixed address and promotes himself on social media as an amateur artist who tattoos his own body.
He appeared in Melbourne District Court on Sunday wearing a disposable face mask and a black T-shirt. Herald Sun reported.
Stevenson followed the legal proceedings closely and seemed clear-headed.
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 location following reports of an attack when they found Mr Pancha (pictured) unconscious.
Kate Lynch, Detective Chief Inspector of the Homicide Squad, told the court it took police 12 weeks to put together a piece of evidence.
The procedure normally takes six weeks, but the court was told an extension was needed to allow the pathology and DNA test reports to be completed.
Stevenson was in custody until November 6.
Magistrate Marc Sargent told the court the defendant required immediate medical attention to make his custody “more comfortable”.
“The nurse will see you as soon as possible today,” he told Stevenson.
Mayor Nathan Conroy of Frankston City Council extended his condolences to Mr Pancha’s family.
“Frankston is a peaceful, vibrant and inclusive community,” Conroy said.
“My thoughts are with the victim’s family.”
Acting Prime Minister Ben Carroll added: “My condolences go out to that man and his family.”
‘There were also many passers-by who saw it and my thoughts are with them too.
When police arrived, officers found a man halfway along the pier who was unresponsive and died shortly after.
‘It’s a very difficult time. Someone who literally just went out to do a recreational activity that they love and enjoy (fishing) and they die is honestly so sad.”
Glenn Cooper, who runs the peninsula charity That’s The Thing About Fishing, described Mr Pancha’s death as devastating.
“He was always cheerful and my volunteers would talk to him while he was fishing,” he said.
‘He will be missed as a regular at Frankston Pier.
“He used to go fishing there (on the pier) at least once or twice a week. It’s a terrible loss.’
Mr. Pancha was a Filipino father of three children.