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Wanted man spotted at Doncaster shopping centre day before vicious and brutal death

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David Dick was brutally attacked without warning when he stepped out of a lift at the Doncaster shopping centre last Friday.

The 36-year-old had just begun his daily routine. He walked from home and took his usual route, cutting through the multi-level shopping centre carpark where he was then supposed to take the bus into town to start his concreting job. 

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Police hunt for Doncaster lift killer

Police search for the sword wielding murderer who stalked his victim for days before pouncing in a Doncaster shopping centre lift.

But someone was waiting for Mr Dick.

The person had been stalking him. He knew his routine. CCTV cameras captured the suspect loitering in the same spot, at the same time, the day earlier.

On Friday morning, the same CCTV cameras would capture his horrifying murder.

As Mr Dick stepped out of the lift at 6am, he was attacked with what police are calling an "edged weapon", which may have potentially been a sword.

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"This man was waiting for David. He was watching him get into the lift and he struck him without warning," homicide squad Detective Inspector Mick Hughes said.

"It's a vicious attack and David never got the opportunity to defend himself."

Mr Dick was found bleeding to death in the lift lobby just minutes after the assault by members of a gym group.

Mr Dick was from a close-knit family in Melbourne's south-east. The middle child of three boys, he finished Year 12 at Melbourne High and completed a carpentry apprenticeship before starting his own business at the age of 20.

His mother Carol Cloke, his brother Simon Dick and uncle John Hird, spoke to reporters on Tuesday in an emotional plea for anyone who recognised Mr Dick's killer to come forward.

"I'm angry because nobody deserves to be treated like that," his uncle said.

"I ask everyone that sees this, if they know who the person is, would they please come forward to speak to police because it's wrong. It's just simply wrong. I'm not saying David was an angel, but nobody deserves this. Nobody."

Mr Dick's life spiralled out of control in 2009, the Melbourne County Court heard last year, with the collapse of his business, the death of his stepfather, and his biological father being placed in a nursing home after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease.

The court heard he begun using the drug ice, and with that, he became involved in crime.

Last year, he pleaded guilty to a burglary at an Officeworks in Campbellfield, as well as possessing drugs and a gun, and was sentenced to almost nine months in prison and a community corrections order with the judge noting his genuine effort to reform since his 2014 arrest.

He had been working at a contracting company, was helping with a program to reinvigorate neglected spaces along Darebin Creek and was clean of drugs.

His mother said her son was at his happiest.

"He was very happy, he's really settled down for the last while now and getting on with his life," Ms Cloke said.

She said her son was a beautiful, fun-loving and magical person with an "enormous strength of character". He played football and had been the captain and president of the Glen Iris Cricket Club.

"Why has this happened?" Ms Cloke said, overcome with grief.

His uncle was the last family member to see him. On Tuesday night, Mr Dick had visited his place for dinner and they spoke about his new job and life.

"He didn't seem stressed by anything, he was extremely happy. I think he started to establish a relationship with a girl to give him that extra part of his life," Mr Hird said.

The family thanked members of the public who discovered him in the lift lobby and tried to save him.

"We want to thank the people who came to his aid. They were very brave," Mr Hird said.

Detective Inspector Hughes said there was likely to be a connection between Mr Dick and the man who killed him.

"There'll be a connection. How they know each other, we don't know, but you don't spend time watching someone. This is not a random attack in a shopping centre, this is a vicious, calculated attack," he said.

He said the attacker, who fled down a fire exit before heading south from the car park towards Doncaster Road, may have injured his hand during the attack and sought medical treatment.

The Caucasian man in the CCTV footage appeared to be in his 30s, 176 centimetres tall with a solid build and mousy brown hair.

Footage from Thursday shows him wearing a grey hooded jumper, tracksuit pants and runners. It's believed he was carrying a weapon inside a long, yellow bag.

He's believed to have been in the vicinity of the car parks between 5.45am and 6.10am last Thursday and on Friday.

Anyone who recognises the man or has further information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.