Trial begins for man accused of hacking friend to death with machete

A man accused of hacking his friend to death with a machete in Melbourne's west two years ago hit his victim at least 39 times, the Victorian Supreme Court has heard. Christopher Reyes Gonzaga, 45, is accused of murdering Gregory Tan, 45, in an empty home in Deer Park in 2024. Mr Gonzaga's trial began on Monday, when the jury heard CCTV audio of yells and thumping noises ringing out through the quiet suburban neighbourhood in the early hours of April 15 that year. Mr Tan suffered extensive injuries, including to his jugular, carotid artery and skull, the Crown alleged. His right hand was also partially severed, which the prosecution told the court was 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. Mr Tan, his brother, their partners and another friend lived next door to the home in which Mr Tan died. It was empty following the death of the previous resident, jurors were told. 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. While in custody, Mr Gonzaga allegedly admitted to stabbing Mr Tan and accused him and others of having killed the resident of the house they were in, by overdosing her in order to rob her. "There's a guy there who's also cut," the court heard Mr Gonzaga told 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. AAP