Son of boxing champion charged with murder after alleged fight at pub in Melbourne’s west

Boxing great Barry Michael says he is devastated after learning his son allegedly murdered a man outside a pub in Melbourne’s west.

Zac Swettenham, 37, faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday wearing a white forensic suit and clutching a blanket, charged with murdering 25-year-old South Yarra man Millenium Nyolic.

“I’m just so sorry for this family, this 25 -year-old that’s died because of my son,” Michael told Nine News.

“It’s horrendous that my son, who was such a loving, intelligent, talented person in so many ways, has just ruined his life.”

Michael told Nine that Swettenham, who suffered from an ice addiction, was recently discharged from a psychiatric hospital after receiving treatment for about a week.

Magistrate Brett Sonnet heard the accused man had a string of issues relevant to his management in custody including medical diagnoses of psychosis, schizophrenia and the movement disorder akathisia. Swettenham identifies as Aboriginal, the court was told.

Sonnet ordered his return to court on October 13.

“You’ve been charged with murder. This court has no jurisdiction to hear an application for bail,” the magistrate added.

Police earlier confirmed that a 37-year-old Williamstown man was arrested on Monday evening following an altercation behind a pub in Footscray on Sunday night.

Emergency services were called to the Courthouse Hotel on Nicholson Street after reports a man had been stabbed. Nyolic was found in a nearby alleyway and treated by paramedics, but he died at the scene.

It’s understood a fight broke out in the venue before spilling onto the street.

The Williamstown man was arrested at Yarraville train station on Monday evening “without incident”, and was interviewed by detectives from the homicide squad.

“At this stage, detectives believe the parties were known to each other,” police said in a statement.

“Police are not looking for anyone else in relation to this incident.”

The accused man’s father is a former Australian IBF World Super-Featherweight boxing champion and Melbourne sporting identity.

Michael was born in England and migrated with his family to settle in Williamstown housing commission flats, where he made his name in the boxing world.

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