On Wednesday, 21 October 2026, three 17-year-old boys and four men were charged with manslaughter over the death of 24-year-old Lino Atem. The events date to 10 January 2025, at the Haines Drive reserve in Wyndham Vale, west of Melbourne. That is a charge. It is not a conviction.

ABC reported the children's court sitting. Prosecutors told the court Atem was allegedly stabbed 26 times, that 18 youths stormed the park with weapons as his group was getting ready to leave, and that they then fled in cars. A friend and one of Atem's brothers were also hurt. That is the prosecution account. It is not a verdict.

Bay 93.9 reported the morning arrests: detectives, Hoppers Crossing, Wyndham, Melton South, seven males aged 17 to 21, all charged with manslaughter. The station said four were due at Melbourne Magistrates' Court and three teenagers at a children's court. ABC, from the hearing, said the 17- and 18-year-olds appeared in children's court, and the 20- and 21-year-olds were due at the magistrates later that night. Two listing calendars, the same file.

In children's court, prosecutors said they would examine DNA on a machete found at the scene and on a beer bottle from a car linked to the accused young men. The court was told some biological material from the scene matched one of the co-accused, and that one of them is already on bail for unrelated drug offences. CCTV and clothing are also expected to figure. That is what prosecutors said. It is not a judged expert finding.

Two of the 17-year-old boys are expected to apply for bail on Thursday. An application, not a grant. Prosecutors said the investigation is continuing and they have not ruled out further suspects. Last year police arrested 13 youths and then released them without charge, pending further inquiries. More than 160 detectives from the Homicide Squad, Crime Command and the north-west took part in those raids on 15 properties.

At the time of the death, police left open the idea that the attack may have been a case of mistaken identity. That remains an old hypothesis. It is not Wednesday's finding. The accused youths return next month for a committal hearing. Until then they remain charged, not convicted.

Image: Canley, Melbourne Magistrates Court, 233 William Street, 12 February 2019, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; the building in 2019, not the Wednesday hearing.

Sources consulted: Seven people charged over alleged pack attack, nearly two years after Lino Atem died - ABC News, 21 October 2026; Charges over Wyndham Vale fatal stabbing - Bay 93.9, 21 October 2026.