Machete Murder Trial Underway in Victorian Supreme Court

A trial is underway in the Victorian Supreme Court for a 45-year-old man accused of murdering his friend with a machete in Melbourne's west.

Christopher Reyes Gonzaga is accused of hacking Gregory Tan, also 45, to death in an empty home in Deer Park in 2024. On Monday, the jury heard security camera audio of yells and thumping noises ringing out in the quiet suburban neighbourhood in the early hours of April 15 that year.

The prosecution alleges Mr Gonzaga hit Mr Tan at least 39 times, including to his jugular, carotid artery, and skull. Mr Tan's right hand was also partially severed, which the prosecution described as a defensive wound.

"[Mr Tan] tried to defend himself while the accused was striking him in the head with the machete,"

prosecutor Penelope Thorp told jurors in her opening address.

At the time of his arrest, Mr Gonzaga had a gash on his forehead, which the Crown alleged was self-inflicted. Mr Gonzaga pleaded not guilty to murder, earlier telling police Mr Tan had threatened him with a screwdriver and that he was acting in self-defence.

The pair had been friends for some time and witnesses reported seeing them use drugs together on multiple occasions, the court was told. Prosecutors allege Mr Gonzaga lit two fires in the home after hacking his friend to death, before leaving and throwing the machete in a drain.

He then called Triple Zero (000) to report the fire and was arrested. Prior to his arrest, Gonzaga was filmed on CCTV crouching down behind a car parked in a driveway, at which time Ms Thorp alleged jurors would see he did not have any injuries to his face.

"There's a guy there who's also cut,"

the court heard Mr Gonzaga tell police.

"Unfortunately, I made friends with the wrong people."

Gonzaga's barrister, John Lavery, will make an opening address to the jury on Tuesday morning.