Man charged as tributes flow for friendly giant with a big heart' after stabbing death in Geelong
A man has been charged with murder after the stabbing death of a 20-year-old man in Geelong's CBD over the weekend.
The tragedy shut down the heart of the city yesterday, with traders forced to close for the day as the homicide squad investigated.
Jayme Sykes, 20, was left lying in a pool of blood along Geelong's infamous Little Malop Street, before he died in hospital.
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Jayme Sykes, 20, was left lying in a pool of blood along Geelong's infamous Little Malop Street, before dying in hospital. Nine
Jayme Sykes, 20, was with a friend at St James night club, when they got into an argument with another group, it is understood. Nine
9News understands Sykes was with a friend at St James nightclub, when they got into an argument with another group about 5.30am yesterday.
A fight broke out spilling across city streets.
Police today arrested and charged a 26-year-old Colac man with one count of murder after he handed himself into a local police station.
James Farquhar faced Geelong Magistrates' Court this afternoon and did not apply for bail.
He was remanded in custody.
Two other Colac men, aged 23 and 26, who self-presented at a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries yesterday morning, will be interviewed at a later date.
Sykes has been remembered as a "friendly giant with a big heart" in the wake of his death.
His friends and family returned to the scene today where he died to lay flowers, paying tribute to the man who was known as 'Chugs'.
His mother, Sally Veal, released a statement honouring her son, who was a barber in the local area.
Sykes' friends and family returned to the scene today where he died to lay flowers, paying tribute to the man who was known as 'Chugs'. Nine
"Chugs my beautiful baby, my world, my rock. That boy's heart was as big as his smile," Veal wrote.
"Heaven won't know what hit them. Fly high, my baby."
Tania Anastasopoulos from the Public Cafe yesterday said the death was "just devastating".
"20-year-old, so young, you know, as a parent your kids go out at night and you don't know if they're going to come home," she said.
9News understands Sykes was with a friend at St James nightclub, when they got into an argument with another group about 5.30am yesterday. Nine
Sykes' mate was also injured and questioned by homicide detectives at the scene.
The SES was called in to search the area for a murder weapon.
The crime scene spanned hundreds of metres, meaning many businesses had to remain closed yesterday.
Those same business owners say violence along Little Malop Street is becoming far too common.
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The tragedy shut down the heart of the city with traders forced to close for the day as the homicide squad investigates. Nine
"I'm not surprised that something has happened, I mean there was a glassing last weekend just around the corner, it's happening all the time," Alex Smith from Hot Chicken Project said.
"Cops are doing nothing about it, something needs to happen and it needs to happen now."
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