Four men and three teenage boys have been charged more than 21 months on from the fatal stabbing of Lino Atem, 24.
Mr Atem died on January 20 last year after he was stabbed during an altercation at Haines Drive Reserve in Wyndham Vale in Melbourne’s southwest.
According to Victoria Police, the young man had been at the park with two friends when they were allegedly confronted by a larger group.
Emergency services were called to the scene about 11.30pm after reports of fighting, finding Mr Atem fatally injured.
Despite medical care he died at the scene, while his two friends sustained non-life threatening injuries.
In March, police announced 13 people, including six boys, had been arrested and released without charge amid a probe into the alleged stabbing.At the time, Detective Acting Inspector Adam Shoesmith said the arrests would hopefully “provide investigators with further avenues of inquiry”.
“Lino was simply enjoying a night in the park socialising with friends when he was attacked,” he said.
“While we believe this incident was targeted, there is nothing to indicate why the group was attacked and police believe it is likely a case of mistaken identity.”
On Wednesday, police revealed a series of warrants were executed across Melbourne’s western and northern suburbs at 5.30am, with four men and three teenagers arrested and charged with manslaughter over Mr Atem’s death.
The Atem family has already endured a similar tragedy after Lino’s brother, Atem Atem, was fatally shot in in the family’s garage in Wyndham Vale in February 2023.
According to police, there is nothing to indicate the deaths of the two brothers are linked.
Speaking to 7 News earlier this year, Mr Atem’s father Deng Atem remembered his son as a hardworking and talented basketball player who had many friends.
All seven are expected to appear in courts on Wednesday.