A 19-year-old Muay Thai fighter, Jojo Punvaree, was stabbed to death in Melbourne's CBD early Sunday morning. The incident occurred at a licensed premises on King Street around 2:40 am, where Punvaree was allegedly involved in a fight with another man. He was found with multiple stab wounds and died at the scene.
Punvaree was a member of Knockoutone Muay Thai in Cheltenham, which paid tribute to him as a beloved member of the community. In a GoFundMe campaign, the gym stated that he was taken too soon due to a senseless act of violence. He was passionate about Muay Thai and aspired to become a world champion.
The gym announced a candlelight vigil for Monday night to honor Punvaree. His alleged attacker, 19-year-old Alfie Heggs, was arrested shortly after the stabbing on Aurora Lane. Heggs was charged with one count of murder and appeared before Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday.
During the hearing, Heggs' lawyer noted that it was his first time in custody and that he had no prior convictions. Heggs requires medication for an underactive thyroid and had been diagnosed with ADHD, but stopped taking medication about a year ago. He remained quiet throughout the hearing and was remanded in custody. The case is expected to be fast-tracked to the Supreme Court due to recent legislative changes.
