Victoria Police has faced scrutiny over its handling of public information in the case of 24-year-old Natan Mwanza, who was fatally stabbed at a bus stop in Wyndham Vale on February 19.
The police’s decision not to release the names of the two individuals charged with his murder has raised questions about transparency and consistency in public identification practices.
Mwanza, a young model described as a “gentle giant” by his family, was killed in an incident that has shaken the African-Australian community. A 22-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy have since been charged. While some media reports have named the older accused as Lwe Taw Eh, Victoria Police has declined to confirm or release these identities.
Victoria Police’s Policy on Naming Accused Persons
In an exclusive statement to BACKCOVERNEWS.COM, Victoria Police clarified that since 2015, it has not publicly named accused individuals in any matter, regardless of the severity of the offence, unless a warrant has been issued for their arrest.
“Victoria Police has not published the name of the accused for any matter since 2015, regardless of the severity of the offence or any other circumstances of the incident,” they said.
“The one exception for this is where a warrant is issued for a specific suspect and we publish their details in an effort to locate them in connection with that incident. When they are charged, we will then generally use their name to close the loop as such and ensure the public is aware that the specific person we have been seeking has been arrested.”
This policy applies broadly, with the exception of appeals to locate people wanted on outstanding warrants. Once an individual is charged, their name is generally no longer included in police communications.
In contrast, the media often publishes the names of accused individuals once they become available through court proceedings. While cases like those of James Gargasoulas (Bourke Street Rampage, 2017) and Jaymes Todd (Eurydice Dixon murder, 2018) involved public identification of the accused, Victoria Police states that it was not responsible for initially releasing these names—media organisations obtained them independently.
Legal Justifications for Withholding Names
Victorian law prohibits the publication of the names of minors charged with crimes, meaning the 17-year-old accused in Mwanza’s case cannot legally be identified. As for the 22-year-old, police have neither confirmed nor denied whether a court suppression order is in place, noting that such orders are typically requested by the defence or imposed by the court.
Victoria Police has advised that journalists seeking information on suppression orders should contact the courts directly, as they maintain the most up-to-date records and can provide relevant legal documentation.
New Details Emerge: Witnesses Sought
While Victoria Police has remained firm on its policy regarding naming accused individuals, they have issued a media release seeking two witnesses who may have seen the start of the alleged assault that led to Mwanza’s death.
According to police, Mwanza was allegedly assaulted by two males while travelling on the 192 bus before alighting at a bus stop near Haines Drive, where he was fatally wounded.
The first male witness boarded the bus at Wyndham Vale Railway Station at 7:47 PM and exited at 8:00 PM at Olive Way and Black Forest Road.
He is described as being of Indian/Sub-Continental or Middle Eastern appearance, in his 20s, of medium height, with a slim build and short hair. He was wearing a dark blue jacket, black pants, black shoes, and carrying a dark backpack with light shoulder straps.
The second witness also boarded at Wyndham Vale Railway Station at 7:47 PM but exited earlier at 7:56 PM at Manuka Grove and Haines Drive. He is described as being of Indian/Sub-Continental or Middle Eastern appearance, aged in his 20s-30s, of medium height, with a slim build and short hair. He was wearing a black jacket, navy blue pants, carrying a blue backpack, and was engaged in a video call while travelling.
Investigators believe one of the passengers may have already contacted Crime Stoppers via an online portal on 20 February but did not leave any details.
Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Dean Thomas urged them to come forward:
“We are very keen to speak to these two males who we believe may have witnessed the beginning of the tragic events which culminated in an innocent young man’s death.”
“I’d like to stress that there is nothing whatsoever to indicate they were involved in the incident, they are potential witnesses only.”
Police are urging the witnesses or anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
Community Concerns and Calls for Transparency
The Congolese community, devastated by Mwanza’s death, continues to seek answers and assurances of fairness in the justice process. Doghy Bongwa, chair of the Victorian Congolese Community group, has expressed his deep concern over the tragedy.
“Back home, things are not great. There’s war in our home country, now here also—people are being killed over there, and here again our people are killed,” he told ABC Radio Melbourne.
While Victoria Police insists that Mwanza’s case has been handled with urgency and consistency, the broader issue of public transparency remains a point of contention. With media outlets frequently publishing the names of accused individuals, some community members question whether Victoria Police’s policies effectively balance the need for due process with public accountability.
For a system that aims to serve all equally, the discussion around transparency and public information in high-profile cases is far from over.
