THE family of a WA man who was murdered almost three decades ago say they were “surprised, relieved and happy” someone has been charged with his death.

Father-of-eight Van Phan Nguyen, 62, was found dead on a walkway linking Wellington Street to McIver railway station in central Perth about 8.30pm on November 23, 1989.

He had sustained fatal stab wounds.

Vincenzo Carlo Marotta, from Claremont, was arrested overnight following a public appeal for information earlier this week and has been remanded in custody to appear in Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on November 30.

Detectives attached to the Special Crime Squad charged Marotta, 54, over the stabbing death near the city train station almost 27 years ago.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Nguyen family said they were “surprised, relieved and happy that someone has been charged” over the murder.

“Knowing the person our father was, we never believed there was any reason he might have been targeted and always thought it was pure bad luck that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” they said. “We want to thank the police for persevering with the investigation and look forward now to justice taking its course.”

Mr Nguyen emigrated to Australia in 1982 to start a better life with his two eldest sons, while his wife, five daughters and youngest son remained in Vietnam.

He lived in East Perth in a unit with his sons and worked as a shop assistant at a Herdsman Grocery shop.

Following Mr Nguyen’s death most of his family relocated to Sydney, while three daughters remained in Vietnam. His eldest son has since died from cancer.

Police will allege he was stabbed numerous times and believe it was a random attack and that the two men were not known to each other.

Following a review and reinvestigation of the case by the Special Crime Squad, detectives charged the Claremont man with one count of wilful murder.

He is due to appear in Perth Magistrates Court.

State Crime Operations Division acting detective superintendent Peter Branchi said he wanted to thank the public for responding to a plea for information earlier this week.

“It has been a long footslog by the officers in Special Crime squad. It culminated with a decision that we needed to see what else might be that missing jigsaw puzzle and it certainly has helped, I have to thank the public for ringing in because this was 27 years ago,” he said.

“We did receive some information from there that has assisted to a certain degree and we will continue to process that information over the coming days and coming weeks.

“There had been developments occurring and continuing to occur over the 10 months and we were heading towards a resolution of some sort.”

Acting detective superintendent Branchi said the murder weapon had not yet been located.

“We still do not have the personal items that we believe are missing from the victim, however that is an ongoing investigation the team will continue to work through at this point in time.”

He said a search at the accused Claremont man’s home had been concluded and police were still making investigations as to whether robbery may have been part of the offence.

Detective Superintendent Branchi said the family had been made aware of the latest breakthrough and were “very appreciative of the efforts of WA Police”.

“They are very relieved,” he said.

On Monday, through WA Police, Mr Nguyen’s family issued a plea for information to help solve their father’s murder.

In a statement released through WA Police, his Sydney-based son, Van Hoang Nguyen, said the family was still desperate for answers and for justice for their father.

“My father’s murder had a terrible impact on the family and was very sad for us all,” Mr Nguyen said.

“He had come to Australia to start a new life and to support his family.

“He was a good man, hardworking and religious, and very popular with his workmates and customers at Herdsman Grocery.

“We couldn’t believe that happened to him and still don’t understand why he was killed.

“Although it has been nearly 27 years, the family has never given up hope that the person responsible will be caught and face justice.”

Acting detective superintendent Branchi said the family were “very relieved” and appreciative of the efforts of WA Police.