Victorian Liberal leader defends impromptu press conference at scene of fatal stabbing | Victorian politics

Victoria Opposition leader Brad Battin defended a deviation on the way to work on a deadly stabbing scene southeast of Melbourne, and said he would continue to visit the active crime scenes.

Emergency services were first invited to the gas station in the corner of Potter Street and Prince Motorway at 4.50 am on Tuesday, responding to reports where a man was stabbed.

The 39 -year -old man was treated by medical staff, but died at the scene.

Battin said that he had heard stabbing reports on the radio and decided to deviate on his way to parliament.

Um I was coming to work this morning, I heard it on the radio. Victoria is an area where I was a police officer, and I saw these crimes in these areas in the past, ”he said.

“Then I went there and talked to the media. But the message was quite simple, the crime was out of control in the state.”

Battin said that he had a press conference with cameras ”and spoke to the police at the scene.

He said that the victim’s body was still at the scene and he did not know that his next relative has not yet been contacted.

Victoria Government Minister Colin Brooks said Battin’s standing at the scene was “terrible ..

“The government acknowledges that the effects of the crime, especially the knife offense, are unacceptable, Bro Brooks said to journalists.

“But what we don’t need, especially… Family members were not informed – this is terrible behaviors from someone who wants to be a leader.”

Brooks said that the opposition leader was “the right to make political arguments” and to participate in the scene of “criticizing the government”.

“He should apologize to families, Bro Brooks said.

However, Battin said he regretted the press conference and would not apologize.

“If there is an outside and about it and if there is a crime and my past, I will make sure that people know what is going on in the state. I will continue to do so.

“He’s more worried about the fact that we’re stabbing on the streets in Victoria to make a minister more worried about me.” This is a shame. “

Police refused to comment when Battin was asked whether it was appropriate for him to be in an active crime.

With the investigation of murder detectives, they said that the precise conditions surrounding the man’s death have not yet been established.

The police, “This early stage, the incident may have occurred in a nearby housing… The man’s address before walking,” he said.