News Service from House Harris

Vic: Man charged with murder over screwdriver attack

MELBOURNE, Dec 29 AAP - A man arrested over a fatal screwdriver stabbing at a Melbourne party has had his charge upgraded to murder.

Stephen Tito, 20, of Reservoir is alleged to have stabbed 19-year-old Afram Kodi to death in a frenzied attack on Friday night.

Mr Kodi suffered critical injuries, described by ambulance chiefs as "horrendous", and died in hospital on Saturday afternoon.

Tito was charged with attempted murder over the attack, a charge which remains in place. Nut he also now has been charged with murder.

He appeared briefly in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court for a filing hearing on Monday and was remanded in custody to appear in the same court for a committal mention on May 6 next year.

Mr Kodi's father Sudan on Saturday described watching the life drain slowly from his son, but said he wasn't angry with the way he died.

"I see my son, his eyes closing, just breathing," Mr Kodi said.

"All the boys (are) Sudanese. Life is very difficult."

Mr Kodi's death has led to calls from prominent Melbourne youth worker Les Twentyman for a "name and shame" weapons offender register.

"It is a national crisis and I think it is only going to get worse," he told AAP.

"It is not the traditional Australian way of life carrying weapons.

"One of the things that has to be looked at is the new arrivals of this country (to tell them) Australians don't carry weapons."