A young mum and dad have been charged with murder over the death of a respected surgeon during an alleged home invasion.
Dr Michael Yung, a highly-regarded intensive care paediatrician, was allegedly stabbed inside his $2million Gilberton home, in Adelaide’s inner-northeast, early on Monday.
The 61-year-old was rushed to Royal Adelaide Hospital where he was placed into an induced coma following emergency surgery.
His family made the heartbreaking decision to turn off his life support on Tuesday afternoon after being informed his injuries were ‘non-survivable’.
Just hours later, Kerem Aydin, 22, and his partner Jacinta Davila, 27, both from the inner western suburb of Thebarton- were arrested at a home in neighbouring Torrensville.
They have been charged with murder, aggravated serious criminal trespass and commit theft using force and are due to face Adelaide Magistrates Court later on Wednesday.
Well respected paediatrician, Dr Michael Yung (pictured), died after allegedly being attacked in a home invasion
Kerem Aydin, 22, and Jacinta Davila, 27 (pictured) have been charged over Dr Yung’s alleged murder
Police have confirmed detectives are not seeking any other suspects at this time.
Photos on social media show the couple posing with their young daughter.
Despite an initial police theory a youth gang was responsible, no connection has been identified between the arrested couple and those being sought for a recent crime spree across Adelaide.
SA Police had been investigating a string of break-ins across wealthy suburbs such as Gilberton, Medindie, Walkerville, Henley Beach, Fulham and Tennyson under Operation Mandrake.
Acting Commissioner Linda Williams said the man and woman who have been charged were not linked to Indigenous or African heritage offenders sought as part of operations Mandrake and Meld.
‘The motive is yet to be worked through as part of the investigation but my advice is there’s no connection with the other activity in those suburbs or with any of the persons of interest that we’d normally deal with in Operation Mandrake,’ she said.
Dr Yung was the former head of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital paediatric intensive care unit and had practised medicine for almost four decades.
His 30-year-old son who also lives at the property was home during the alleged attack. Police said they arrived to find Dr Yung’s son uninjured but ‘distraught’.
Dr Yung was rushed to Royal Adelaide Hospital early Monday morning where he underwent an emergency surgery and placed into an induced coma (pictured, police at the scene)
Dr Yung allegedly received injuries to the chest, bowel and head, causing bleeding of the brain.
The eminent paediatrician’s death is the most recent tragedy for his family after Kathryn Browne-Yung, his health policy expert wife, suddenly died in her sleep in March 2020.
Shortly after her death Dr Yung created a $5,000 scholarship to support Indigenous medical students in the name of his ‘kind, thoughtful and intelligent’ wife.
His family have requested for donations to be made to the Kathryn Browne-Yung Scholarship Fund in lieu of flowers.
Police are urging anyone with dashcam footage between midnight and 5am on Monday December 11, within a 500m radius of James Street and Nottage Terrace at Gilberton or anyone who has information that may assist with the investigation to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.