Canberra punk musician Christopher David Navin has pleaded not guilty to the stabbing murder of Canberra and Sydney punk scene fixture Nicholas Sofer-Schreiber.
ABC News reports the 27-year-old Navin was arrested and charged with the murder last Friday (February 14). Navin appeared in the ACT Magistrates bail court on Saturday morning; he did not apply for bail and — through solicitor Peter Woodhouse — pleaded not guilty.
Navin remained silent throughout the hearing, which was attended by a large group of friends and family.
Police launched a homicide investigation into Sofer-Schreiber's death after the legally blind 27-year-old was found dead in his Lyneham, Canberra home on December 28. After not hearing from him since Boxing Day, his friends entered the home and found his body with multiple stab wounds.
No motive for the murder has been offered by police, but it is believed Navin and Sofer-Schreiber knew each other, as they were both heavily involved in Canberra's punk scene.
The death of Sofer-Schreiber, who was known to his friends as the "Ginger Ninja", was met with an outpouring of grief from the punk community. US band Strung Out described Sofer-Schreiber as "a nice, humble, kind person".
Sofer-Schreiber's friends are raising money for a punk festival to be held in his honour. Navin is due back in court on April 24.
