Man charged with murder after fatal stabbing of HungryPanda delivery rider in Melbourne

A man has been charged with murder following the fatal stabbing of a food delivery rider in Melbourne, an attack that has left a family devastated and prompted mourning across the city.

HungryPanda rider Feng Jianming, 47, was working on Friday night when he and a fellow rider approached a man who was allegedly interfering with their bikes in the city centre. A confrontation broke out, and the 51-year-old man allegedly stabbed both riders.

Emergency services hurried to Frederick Way, but Feng died at the scene. The second rider, aged 34, was taken to hospital with serious injuries and remained there days later.

Police arrested the 51-year-old suspect on Saturday. He has since been charged with one count of murder and intentionally causing serious injury, and was remanded in custody to appear before Melbourne magistrates court.

Feng came to Australia from China's Shaanxi Province about nine years ago. His wife, Xu, their four parents and two children all depended on his earnings to support the household back home.

News of his killing spread widely through Melbourne and among gig worker communities in Australia and overseas. Over the weekend, mourners placed flowers and written messages near the state library in his honour.

Some of the cards left at the site offered sympathy to Feng's family, while others conveyed anger, carrying messages such as "city of criminal" and "Asian lives matter".

A GoFundMe campaign organised by the Melbourne Chinatown Business Association had collected almost $390,000 by Monday morning. The funds are intended to help Feng's family cover emergency travel and funeral costs.

HungryPanda said it was supporting the family with visa arrangements, funeral expenses, financial assistance and insurance matters.