Melbourne machete murder trial begins in Victorian Supreme Court

Christopher Reyes Gonzaga, 45, is standing trial in the Victorian Supreme Court for the alleged murder of his friend, Gregory Tan, 45, in the Melbourne suburb of Deer Park in April 2024.

Prosecutors allege that Gonzaga attacked Tan with a machete in an empty home, inflicting at least 39 wounds, including strikes to the head, neck, and torso. The prosecution claims Tan suffered defensive wounds, including a partially severed hand, and that Gonzaga lit two fires in the residence after the attack before calling emergency services.

Gonzaga has pleaded not guilty, claiming he acted in self-defence. He told police that Tan, who was allegedly under the influence of GHB, threatened him with a screwdriver. Gonzaga also alleged that Tan and others had previously killed a former resident of the home to rob her, claiming the woman was a ‘witch’ and had died from an overdose. The defense indicated the trial would focus on Gonzaga’s state of mind during the incident.