A man who stabbed his next door neighbour to death believing he was trying to steal his bicycle will walk free after being acquitted of murder.
Stephen Robinson, 57, faced a murder trial in Victoria's Supreme Court after he killed Adam Russell, 49, in August 2021 as he believed he was going to steal his bike to sell it for drugs.
His lawyer Amy Brennan previously told the court Robinson, who was captured on CCTV stabbing Mr Russell, had admitted killing the man during a scuffle in their rooming house in Endeavour Hills.
However, she said he stabbed his next door neighbour in self-defence and did not intend to kill the man.
After 1.35pm on August 15, Robinson got ready for a bike ride and placed it outside his room, partially blocking access to Mr Russell's room.
Mr Russell walked back to his room, grabbed the bike, and the pair began arguing.
The fight became more physical, with punches thrown, and Robinson returned to his room and retrieved a knife, before stabbing Mr Russell in the chest.
Following the scuffle, Robinson walked passed Mr Russell's body and went to the caretaker's room.
"Ring the police, I've stabbed Adam, I think he's dead," he told the caretaker.
Following a week-long trial, a jury returned on Thursday finding Robinson was not guilty of murder.
