Victorian opposition leader Brad Battin has defended his decision to hold an impromptu press conference at the scene of a fatal stabbing in Melbourne's south-east, despite the victim's next of kin not having been notified at the time.
Emergency services were called to a petrol station in Dandenong early Tuesday after reports a man had been stabbed. The 39-year-old victim died at the scene. Battin said he heard reports of the stabbing on the radio and decided to detour on his way to parliament, as the area was one where he had previously served as a police officer.
Battin told reporters his message was that 'crime is out of control' in Victoria. He said he spoke to media and police at the scene, but was unaware the victim's body was still present and that family had not been contacted.
Victorian government minister Colin Brooks criticised Battin's actions as 'appalling', stating that while politicians are entitled to make political arguments, attending a crime scene before family notification was a 'real error of judgment'. Battin, however, said he had no regrets and would not apologise, vowing to continue visiting crime scenes to raise awareness.
Detective Inspector Dean Thomas of Victoria Police said the circumstances of the death were yet to be established, and that the man may have suffered stab wounds at a nearby property. Police are appealing for witnesses who saw anything suspicious between 4.30am and 5am.
