Seven people charged over deadly alleged pack attack in Melbourne's west

In short:

Three boys and four men have been charged over the attack that claimed the life of 24-year-old Lino Atem in January 2025.

A court heard DNA evidence had been found on a machete located at the scene.

What's next?

Some of the accused youths will return to court for a committal hearing next month.

The final moments of a 24-year-old allegedly hacked to death in a pack attack in Melbourne's south-west have been revealed as three boys and four men face charges almost two years after the ambush.

Lino Atem was allegedly stabbed 26 times as he drank and listened to music with his friends at a reserve Haines Drive in Wyndham Vale on January 10 last year.

A children's court heard 18 youths stormed the park in what prosecutors described as a riot with weapons as Lino's group was preparing to leave, attacking the group before fleeing in cars.

Lino died at the scene, while a friend and one of his brothers were also injured.

Police previously said they believed the "ferocious" and "targeted" ambush on Lino may have been a case of mistaken identity.

Three 17-year-old boys and four men, including two 18-year-olds, a 20-year-old and a 21-year-old, were charged with manslaughter on Wednesday morning after raids across Melbourne.

The 17 and 18 year-olds all fronted a children's court, where prosecutors said they would probe DNA on a machete found at the scene and a beer bottle located inside a car connected to the accused young men.

The court was told some DNA collected from the scene matched one of the co-accused, and one of the co-accused is on bail for unrelated drug offences.

The court was told CCTV and items of clothing would also be central to their case.

Two of the 17-year-old boys are expected to apply for bail on Thursday.

Prosecutors told the court they had not ruled out additional suspects, and that the investigation was continuing.

Charges come nearly two years after death

The slew of charges laid on Wednesday comes almost two years after Lino's death and is the most significant breakthrough in the investigation since police arrested 13 youths over the fatal attack last year.

They were all without charges pending further inquiries.

Police estimated that more than 160 detectives across the Homicide Squad, Crime Command and the north-western region were involved in those raids, which spanned 15 properties.

Lino's death followed the shooting death of his brother Atem at their Wyndham Vale home in February 2023.

Atem was allegedly followed home and shot, along with his friend Ayuel Akuei and the family dog.

The boys' father Deng Atem told the ABC he could not comprehend losing two of his sons following Lino's death.

"My son called me … he said, 'I can't believe it. Lino is dead like Atem two years ago'," Mr Atem said at the time.

"I want justice."

The 20 and 21-year-old men charged over Lino's death were due to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court later on Wednesday night.

The accused youths will return to court for a committal hearing next month.