Feng Jianming: Man Charged With Murder in Melbourne Stabbing
A 51-year-old Footscray man faces a murder charge after HungryPanda rider Feng Jianming, 47, was stabbed to death in Melbourne's CBD. A second rider remains in hospital. A fundraiser for Feng's family had raised almost $390,000 by Monday morning.
A 51-year-old man from Footscray has been charged with murder over the fatal stabbing of HungryPanda delivery rider Feng Jianming, 47, in Melbourne's city centre, Victoria Police said on Monday, November 9.
He also faces one count of intentionally causing serious injury. He was remanded in custody to appear before Melbourne Magistrates' Court.
Police allege Feng and a second rider, aged 34, saw a man tampering with their bikes on Frederick Way, near Queen Victoria Market. They confronted him, and an altercation followed at about 8.10pm.
Emergency services were called to the scene. Feng was found with suspected stab wounds and died there despite CPR.
The second rider was taken to hospital with serious injuries and remained there on Monday. Another account of the incident described his injuries as non-life-threatening.
Police said the two riders did not appear to know the man. A Victoria Police spokeswoman said investigators were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
The 51-year-old was arrested in Footscray on Saturday morning.
A family left behind
Feng came from Shaanxi Province in China and had lived in Australia for about nine years. His wife, Xu, said he came to earn money for a few years to support their elderly parents and young children.
"He was the main breadwinner in our family. Now that he's gone, we don't know what to do," she told local media.
Friend Catherine Wang described him as "incredibly kind, warm-hearted and patient." His wife and children had stayed in China while he worked in Melbourne.
The Melbourne Chinatown Business Association set up a GoFundMe page for the family. It had raised almost $390,000 by Monday morning, to cover emergency travel and funeral costs.
The association said Feng was a familiar face among restaurant owners and fellow riders in the CBD. Colleagues told it he rarely spent money on himself.
Tributes and company response
Mourners left floral tributes and notes near the State Library over the weekend. Some cards offered sympathy to the family, while others carried messages such as "city of criminal" and "Asian lives matter".
A candlelit vigil, organized on a Chinese-language social media platform, was held outside the library.
HungryPanda said it was assisting the family with visa arrangements, funeral expenses, financial support and insurance. In a statement it said: "We extend our deepest condolences to the deceased, as well as to his family and loved ones."
The accused is due to face Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Monday.
