Glen Boyce pleads guilty to manslaughter over death of Zachary Bevilaqua in Woodbridge, Perth

A 22-year-old man from the WA Wheatbelt town of Northam has admitted to manslaughter over the death of a young father in Perth’s east.

Zachary Bevilaqua, 23, was found critically injured after he was stabbed in the neck outside a Woodbridge home on September 30, 2023.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Glen Boyce pleads guilty to manslaughter over Perth father’s death.

Homicide detectives charged Glen Boyce with murder after a week-long search for Bevilaqua’s killer.

Boyce was due to stand trial in the Supreme Court on Tuesday to defend himself against the allegation but, before the jury could be sworn in, instead pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.

He is now facing life behind bars and will be sentenced next week, when further information about exactly what happened on the night will be detailed.

Prosecutors have flagged they will play security vision of the incident.

Boyce has a violent past and was previously convicted of stabbing a stranger with a screwdriver. He walked free from prison just weeks before Bevilaqua’s death.

Bevilaqua was found critically injured outside a home on Chatham Rd when emergency services were called to the street about 1.25am.

He was taken to hospital and underwent a number of emergency surgeries but could not be saved.

The victim’s family was in court, and Boyce also had support.

‘Amazing dad’

Bevilaqua’s partner previously told 7NEWS.com.au that he was an incredible father to their then 10-month-old daughter and a “kind and caring” person.

“He always put our needs before his own and he was an amazing dad,” she said.

“Every morning when he woke up he would look at his daughter with such pride and love and I’m devastated I’ll never see that look again.

“Zac always made me feel loved and confident. He was a beautiful soul taken from us way too soon.