Robin Robin: Trial begins for man accused of stabbing two, killing one at Ormond house party
A young man accused of stabbing two men while drunk allegedly told a police officer “I’m guilty” during his arrest, a jury has been told.
Robin Robin, 29, is on trial in the Supreme Court of Victoria, accused of murdering 22-year-old Navjeet Singh and attempting to murder 30-year-old Shawan Singh on May 5, 2024.
Mr Robin has pleaded not guilty and faces two alternative charges of intentionally causing serious injury and recklessly causing serious injury in relation to stab wounds allegedly inflicted on Shawan Singh.
The trial began on Monday, with a 14-person jury appointed to hear the case before Crown Prosecutor Nadia Kaddeche began her opening statement.
He told the court Mr Robin allegedly attacked flatmate Shawan Singh with a kitchen knife, then turned the knife on Navjeet Singh, whom he did not know, as the second man tried to intervene.
Describing the circumstances of the alleged attack, Ms Kaddeche said Mr Robin and his younger brother, Abhijeet, were hosting a party at a house they rented in the Melbourne suburb of Ormond.
He said the two brothers allegedly became angry after Shawan Singh left the party to play cards at his friend Navjeet Singh’s house in Noble Park and called and harassed him repeatedly throughout the night.
The prosecutor said that after 11pm Mr Robin told Shawan Singh to return and pack his belongings as he “didn’t want him living there anymore”.
Ms Kaddeche said Shawan Singh told Navjeet Singh and several others that he was playing cards and the group went to Ormond to collect their belongings.
At the home, Mr Robin allegedly continued to shout curses at Shawan Singh in Hindi and threatened him with a knife.
“The deceased stood by his car and did not meet the accused or Abhijeet,” Ms Kaddeche said.
Mr Robin allegedly attacked Shawan Singh with a knife, stabbing him in the chest and shoulder before Navjeet Singh intervened.
Three seconds of phone footage from a resident of the home and less than a minute of dashcam footage from a passing Uber driver were played in court.
Ms Kaddeche claimed the footage showed Mr Robin attacking Navjeet Singh with a knife while he was on the ground, with Mr Abhijeet “joining” in the attacks with the back of his hand.
In the days after the alleged murder and attempted murder, Ms Kaddeche said the two brothers took an Uber to Albury in NSW, then hitchhiked to Yass and then took a taxi to a Sikh temple in Carrick.
NSW Police attended the property and arrested the two men on May 7.
Ms. Kaddeche said that during the arrest, Mr. Robin allegedly told an officer; “I want to say that I am guilty.”
He was alleged to have said, “I am guilty, my brother is innocent, he did nothing. I am guilty.”
Ms Kaddeche will make her opening statement to the jury when the trial resumes on Tuesday, followed by Mr Robin’s lawyer, John Desmond.
The trial continues.
