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Tara Cosoleto

Accused allegedly confessed guilt after stabbing murder

Robin Robin is standing trial for murder after allegedly stabbing two men outside his home. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

An accused murderer allegedly admitted his guilt to a police officer after stabbing two men in a drunken attack, a jury has been told.

Robin Robin, 29, has denied he murdered Navjeet Singh, 22, and attempted to murder Sharwan Singh, 30, in Melbourne's southeast in the early hours of May 5, 2024.

He is on trial in the Victorian Supreme Court, with crown prosecutor Nadia Kaddeche alleging Robin attacked the two men outside his Ormond home shortly before 1am. 

Jurors on Wednesday were told Robin had been drinking alcohol with friends all evening to celebrate his brother Abhijeet Abhijeet buying a car. 

Sharwan, who lived with Robin, left the party about 6.30pm and went to Navjeet's house to play cards.

Court signage (file)
Robin Robin did not have an intention to kill or cause really serious injury, the jury heard. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

Robin and Abhijeet were allegedly angry when they found out Sharwan had left and repeatedly called the 30-year-old to abuse him and demand his return. 

The jury was told in one of the calls, Robin told Sharwan he was no longer allowed in the house and he would start throwing his belongings out onto the street. 

Navjeet offered to help Sharwan collect his items and drove them both to Robin's house, arriving about 12.30am.

It's alleged Robin was pacing the footpath armed with a knife and he was yelling abuse towards Sharwan as the man went inside to collect his items.

As Sharwan started putting his belongings in the car, Robin allegedly came at him and stabbed him in the chest with a knife. 

It's alleged he continued to abuse Sharwan in Hindi as he stabbed him twice more to the left shoulder. 

The jury was told Navjeet tried to intervene, getting in between the two men, when Robin turned on him. 

He allegedly held Navjeet by his shirt collar and repeatedly stabbed him as he tried to get away. 

A number of bystanders reported seeing Navjeet, who was unarmed, fall to the ground during the attack and the police were called. 

Navjeet and Sharwan were both taken to hospital but Navjeet could not be saved. 

An autopsy confirmed he died from a stab wound to the chest. 

Before police arrived, it's alleged Robin ran into the house, grabbing a bag with travel documents, before telling his brother to come with him as he fled. 

Over the next two days, Robin and Abhijeet allegedly caught multiple trains, Ubers and taxis to get to a Sikh temple in the NSW town of Carrick.

The pair were arrested at the temple by police on May 7 and Robin allegedly told a senior officer "I'm guilty, I'm the guilty one, my brother is innocent". 

Defence barrister John Desmond accepted his client was "very intoxicated" on the night of the alleged stabbing but denied he was guilty of murder and attempted murder. 

In outlining the different elements of the charges to the jury, Mr Desmond clarified his client did not have an intention to kill or cause really serious injury. 

Robin also held a lawful justification to act the way he did, namely he was acting in self-defence, Mr Desmond told the jury. 

The trial before Justice Andrew Tinney continues. 

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