Update on alleged murder of police officer’s son at Adelaide backpacker hostel

A secrecy order has been imposed on the identity of the man charged in the alleged stabbing murder of 23-year-old Lewis Parkin at an Adelaide backpacker’s hostel on Friday.

The order was requested as more details emerge regarding the events leading up to the fatal confrontation.

Police will allege CCTV footage from the Hindley Street Backpacker hostel shows the accused acting erratically in the kitchen before an argument breaks out between him and Mr Parkin.

It’s alleged that Mr Parkin was eventually stabbed, stumbling into the street with fatal injuries despite the efforts of paramedics and police to save him.

“It’s a very difficult time for a family who are grieving,” Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said.

“There will be an opportunity for me to be able to speak to that officer soon.”

The accused remains in custody.

Defence lawyer Craig Caldicott suggested that they may apply for bail in the future.

“We might be applying for bail in the near future once we get a lot more information,” he said.

Prosecutors requested the suppression order on the accused’s identity.

They said they needed to interview numerous witnesses from the busy Friday night scene.

Prosecutors also asked the court to remand the man in custody for more than a year as they finalise the ongoing investigation.

“We’re seeking 13 months, that’s to examine DNA and lately we’re looking at about a 12 month wait for that process,” the prosecutor said.

However, Mr Caldicott said that was too long for his client to spend on remand.

“We’d be happy with four to six months,” he said.

It is thought that Mr Parkin and the accused had known each other.

Mr Parkin’s devastated younger sister has paid a heartbreaking tribute to her “best friend”.

Erin Parkyn, whose name is spelt differently as they have different fathers, said her brother was a “beautiful brother, lovely son and amazing nephew and grandson”.

“He was my best friend, I couldn’t have asked for a better brother,” said the 19-year-old, who grew up with Mr Parkin in Athelstone.

Tommy, a friend of Mr Parkin’s who was staying at the same hostel where Mr Parkin was allegedly stabbed, said he was excited to start a new job with a carpentry firm.

“He got a carpentry job and he was supposed to start next week,” Tommy, 24, said.

“He just wanted to get back to working. It’s a really tragic story.”

The accused is set to return to court in May.