Son of Aussie former international boxer is charged with murder after man died behind a Melbourne pub

By EMILY WOODS FOR AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: 11:11, 9 June 2026 | Updated: 11:25, 9 June 2026 The son of a former Australian boxing champion has fronted court accused of murder after a man died behind a pub. Zac Swettenham, 37, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday afternoon via video link from a police station after he was charged with one count of murder. He is the son of Barry Michael, 71, a former Australian boxer who won an international super featherweight title in 1985 and unsuccessfully ran for a Senate seat in 2013 for the Palmer United Party. South Yarra man Millenium Nyolic, 25, was found with serious injuries about 7.45pm on Sunday, behind the Courthouse Hotel on Nicholson Street in Footscray, Melbourne's inner-west. Emergency services tried to save Mr Nyolic, but he died at the scene. Police alleged the two parties were known to one another, and said the accused killer was arrested without incident at Yarraville Railway Station about 8.30pm on Monday. Swettenham was dressed in white with a blanket draped across his knees as he appeared in court. His defence lawyer told the court he identified as Aboriginal and suffered from several conditions, including psychosis, schizophrenia and akathisia, which is a movement disorder. Zac Swettenham (right) is the son of Barry Michael (left), a former Australian boxer who won an international super featherweight title in 1985 Michael also unsuccessfully ran for a Senate seat in 2013 for the Palmer United Party A South Yarra man was found with serious injuries about 7.45pm on Sunday, behind the Courthouse Hotel on Nicholson Street in Footscray, Melbourne's inner-west She confirmed he had not yet been seen by a nurse in custody. Magistrate Brett Sonnet asked Swettenham if he could hear and see the court, to which the accused said: 'Yes I can, Your Honour.' He told Swettenham he had been charged with murder and as such the court had no jurisdiction to hear an application for his bail. Swettenham was remanded in custody and will return to court on October 13. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.