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The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,A
22 February 2007

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Victoria Police

Axe-wielding man shot dead by

A WOMAN preparing for her sister's funeral yesterday was left doubly grief-stricken when her son was shot dead by police after he allegedly rushed at them with a tomahawk.

The tragedy unfolded in Sunshine West about 9am after two police constables responded to a report of a neighbourhood dispute in Frank Street.

The dead man, believed to be Michael Bugeja, 34, had apparently assaulted Jason Catania, who lived 20 metres from the house Mr Bugeja shared with his parents.

While police were at Mr Bugeja's front door, he left via the side gate and returned to Mr Catania's house, where he allegedly attacked cars with the tomahawk.

When police found Mr Bugeja, he allegedly advanced on them with the tomahawk, forcing them to produce capsicum spray and extendable batons. When he continued to walk forward, one officer shot him twice.

Mr Bugeja's mother wailed: "You killed my son" as she ran from the house to find her son's body in the street. Later, relatives returning from the funeral of Mr Bugeja's aunt, who died last week of cancer, were stunned by the scene that greeted them. Mr Bugeja's father is in hospital suffering from a brain condition.

Assistant Commissioner Sandra Nicholson defended the actions of the two constables. Their actions will be investigated by the homicide squad, Ethical Standards Department and the Office of Police Integrity.

"There was a male who was in possession of an axe, the members initially produced their batons and (capsicum) sprays and the male continued to come at them," Ms Nicholson said.

"A call was made upon him to put the axe down and that call was made several times. He continued to come at the members and, as a result of that, a number of shots were fired."

It is not known what started the ongoing dispute between the two men, which flared again on Tuesday night when Mr Bugeja smashed Mr Catania's car window.

Mr Catania and his wife were believed to be cleaning up broken glass the next morning when the events that led to Mr Bugeja's death began.

It is believed that Mr Catania's parents once owned the house in which Mr Bugeja and his parents lived.

Neighbours were divided on Mr Bugeja's character, with one, an old friend of the dead man's father, describing him as a "good, quiet bloke".

However, another neighbour, John Kodric, said he was surly and uncommunicative. "You don't know who you're dealing with. He doesn't say nothing, he doesn't say hello, he just runs in and out. To me he was not normal."

But Mr Catania, a father of one, was a model neighbour, Mr Kodric said. "Jason is one of the nicest boys you could get. He minds his own business, he is hardworking, he is a family man. You name it, that's what he is."

Mr Bugeja is the sixth person shot dead by police in the past three years.

Between 1988 and 1994, 23 people were shot dead by police. In 1998, capsicum spray was issued as standard equipment to defuse volatile situations.

FATAL SHOOTINGS

February 10, 2004 Police shoot Peter Hubbard, 48, after he allegedly confronts them with a knife and tomahawk in Wendouree.

May 22, 2004 Police shoot Gregory Biggs, 27, of Brunswick, after he allegedly threatens them with swords in Lygon Street.

October 13, 2004 Police shoot Jason Chapman, 31, after he lunges at them with a knife in Yarraville and police attempts to subdue him fail.

February 18, 2005 Special Operations Group shoots murder suspect Wayne Joannou, 26, of Sydenham, after intercepting a car in South Melbourne.

April 5, 2005 Special Operations Group shoots attempted-murder suspect Mohamed Chaouk, 29, of Brooklyn, after he allegedly lunges at them with a sword.

April 19, 2005 Police shoot Lee Andrew Kennedy, 40, at his Shepparton home after he allegedly threatens a family member with a gun and holds a gun to a policewoman's head.

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Article sourced from

The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,A22 February 2007

Axe-wielding man shot dead by

EiP Comments:

The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,A
22 February 2007