‘Awful’: Charges laid after man stabbed in head during Kew East home invasion, children asleep inside

Three people, including two teenagers, have been charged with multiple offences after a terrifying home invasion in Melbourne’s east, leaving man hospitalised after he was allegedly stabbed in the head, while two alleged offenders remain on the run. Police allege five unknown people smashed a large window of the house on Oxford St in Kew East at about 4am on Sunday. A husband and wife inside the house were woken by the sounds of smashing glass, and soon confronted by the alleged intruders. Two young children were inside the home at the time. Police allege the husband and wife were separated and put in different rooms of the house. The wife was taken to a room where two children, aged two and three, were sleeping. “The husband was then stabbed multiple times to the head, face and arms,” a police statement read. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, detective sergeant Leeanne Trusler said she had “never seen anything like this”. “This is awful,” she said. “A family … asleep in their home, nearly four o’clock in the morning, the house is secure, they’re meant to be safe. “It’s their home, or their castle as they say. “You should be safe, you shouldn’t be disrespected in your home and having people come in at that time of night and doing that to your family.” Ms Trusler said the husband was allegedly stabbed 11 times on his head and arms with a machete and suffered a fractured arm. She told reporters the grandparents, aged 69 and 70, rushed to the man’s aid, with the grandfather suffering cuts to his hands and leg. The grandmother was allegedly pushed and shoved during the incident, sustaining bruises to her face. “The grandparents have also been assessed by doctors and released,” she said. In an online statement, member for Kew Jess Wilson said “every person has the right to feel safe in their own home” and the “sense of safety is being eroded in our state, and too often here in our own community”. “My thoughts are with the family whose lives have been turned upside down by this horrific crime,” she wrote. “No family should ever have to endure such fear and trauma, and I wish the father a speedy and full recovery.” It is further alleged one offender returned to their car, while the other four got into the occupants’ BMW. “The stolen BMW was located dumped on Christie Street in Deer Park,” police said. Police arrested three people a short time later on Hamilton St in Deer Park. The 39-year-old husband was transported to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. His wife, 34, was treated for minor injuries. Two other adults who were at the home at the time, aged 69 and 70, were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The two children and another adult did not suffer physical injuries. Two boys, aged 16 and 17, and a 24-year-old Caroline Springs man are being interviewed. The three men have been charged multiple offences, including aggravated home invasion, intentionally cause serious injury, recklessly cause serious injury, four counts of recklessly cause injury, false imprisonment, theft of mobile phones, and theft of motor vehicle. The 24-year-old man was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on November 5. The 16-year-old Caroline Springs boy and the 17-year-old Frankston boy were both remanded are expected to face a children’s court at a later date. Police are still searching for others allegedly involved. Anyone with information, witnessed the incident or has CTV footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.