A man has faced court accused of stabbing to death a beloved father and son during a child's birthday party.
Joel Fitzgerald, 30, was charged on Tuesday with the murders of Karl Gruber-Terrick, 23, and his father, 54-year-old Dieter Gruber.
The pair were both killed at a toddler's birthday party in Clyde North, southeast Melbourne, in January.
Fitzgerald's arrest came after the frustrated family of the father and son demanded action several months ago.
'I'm sick of waiting for the motherf*ers to be charged with murder,' Rebecca Gruber Terrick posted on social media in June.
'It's time for justice! I want justice for my father and brother.'
She identified Fitzgerald as the alleged killer.
Fitzgerald made no application for bail and will remain behind bars until his next court appearance in April.
The court heard he was withdrawing from GHB and methamphetamine.
It is understood Fitzgerald was known to his victims through a relationship linked to the pair.
Fitzgerald was told by the magistrate to pipe down after he interrupted proceedings to complain about the application.
The court heard police needed longer than usual to compile the brief of evidence against Fitzgerald due to the large amount of digital data and CCTV involved.
About 20 people had gathered for the party when a fight suddenly erupted and both men were stabbed about 9.30pm, Victoria Police said at the time.
Mr Gruber-Terrick Jnr had been a respected member of the Fitzroy Stars Football Club, which paid tribute to him then.
'We are grieving the sudden loss of one of our much-loved playing members who was a true gentleman at our club, wore his heart on his sleeve and let his footy do the talking,' the club wrote on social media.
A manhunt was launched after the incident with detectives saying they believed a man fled the scene before emergency services arrived.
Detective Superintendent Janet Stevenson from the Serious Crime Division told reporters the alleged stabbing occurred after a private birthday party turned sour.
She said an argument occurred before a brawl spilled out onto Observatory Street.
'It was a private birthday party that should have been a birthday celebration, [but] unfortunately had this tragic result,' Det Spt Stevenson said.
Residents were told to stay indoors as police hunted for the man.
Neighbours had been shocked to hear sirens in the normally quiet street.
'It's very scary,' one neighbour, who didn't want to be named, said at the time.
'We actually watched as the police arrived, for quite some time, but police told us to stay inside our homes for our own safety.'
The estate, which is off Thompsons Road, is relatively new with the first residents moving in around seven years ago, neighbours said.