A SWAN Hill man has been charged with murder after a fatal attack this month in Golden Square.
Emergency services were called about 10am on January 2 to a hotel on High Street.
Bendigo artist, Joshua Penny, 34, was treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital.
He died in hospital on Wednesday.
A 33-year-old Swan Hill man was arrested in the Bendigo CBD shortly after the incident.
He was initially charged with intentionally cause serious injury.
Bendigo detectives have reviewed the charge and the man has now also been charged with murder.
He was remanded in custody to appear at Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on April 2.
Mr Penny’s family wrote in a Facebook post: “It is with broken hearts and unbearable pain that we let you know that due to the severity of Josh’s injuries and deterioration over the last couple of days, Josh has lost the battle he has been fighting.
“His family are devastated and broken and will spend time to say their goodbyes.”
Mr Penny, who was homeless, was well-known in the community for sitting outside various shops like Golden Square Woolworths and Eaglehawk and Long Gully IGA and drawing in his sketch pad.
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