St Albans stabbing death: Man charged with murder

St Albans’s Vatthana Chounlamountry has been charged by Homicide Squad detectives with one count of murder.

A warrant was issued for his arrest following the stabbing death of a 22-year-old man at an Adams Street house in St Albans on Tuesday last week.

Homicide Squad detectives, with the assistance of the Special Operations Group, arrested the 30-year-old about 12.30pm on Sunday in Sunshine.

He has been remanded in custody to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today.

He was arrested following a dramatic siege at the Glengala Hotel, in Glengala Road. Armoured cars and other police vehicles descended on the hotel to arrest Mr Chounlamountry.

Detective Superintendent Alan Byrnes said the squad had received credible information that the suspect was staying in the hotel.

“Negotiators worked hard and had some children who were inside the room released and later on the suspect was forcibly removed.”

Superintendent Byrnes said the six-month-old and four-year-old children were released uninjured just after midday and were with relatives.

Special Operations Group members forcibly removed Mr Chounlamountry and a 24-year-old woman from the room about 12.30pm.

– With Deborah Gough, The Age