Private party’s tragic turn

Emergency services were called to a property on Observatory Street in Clyde North shortly after 9.30pm on Thursday 16 January following reports of an altercation. (Gary Sissons: 454044)

By Violet Li and Victoria Police

A private birthday party in Clyde North took a tragic turn last night.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of two men in Clyde North on the night of Thursday 16 January.

Emergency services were called to a property on Observatory Street shortly after 9.30pm following reports of an altercation.

A 23-year-old and a 54-year-old from the same family in Seaford were found with stab wounds and treated by paramedics, but both died at the scene.

It is believed that multiple people left the address before police arrived and a search is currently underway to locate them.

Police are speaking to other people present at the property at the time.

Detective Superintendent Serious Crime Division Janet Stevenson told the media on the morning of Friday 17 January that an argument had occurred at around 9.30pm and escalated into a brawl that spilled out onto the street.

“At some stage during that brawl, two men have been stabbed and they both died at the scene,” she said.

“Some people left prior to police arriving, and we really need to speak to those people so we can piece together exactly what happened here last night.

“It’s very early on, and we are working on getting in contact with those people.”

Ms Stevenson said the police understood that there were about 20 people involved in the brawl.

She said it should have been a celebration, but unfortunately, it had a tragic outcome.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, with dashcam/CCTV footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au