Thursday, 7 December 2017

Son Charged with the Murder of His Father in Maryland

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A 21-year-old man will face Newcastle Local Court today, charged with the stabbing murder of his father in Maryland last night.

Police were called to Delray Court, Maryland just after 9 o'clock last night following reports of an assault.

Officers arrived to find a 52-year-old man lying in a front yard with multiple stab wounds from a knife to his chest and stomach.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Mahon.
Detective Chief Inspector Peter Mahon said it appears the incident was sparked by an argument between the father and son over a phone.

"The investigation has revealed a 52-year-old male and his 21-year-old son were involved in an argument. We don't know what the argument was about at this stage. At about 9:15pm last night, the father has left the premises followed by his son and a further argument took place,"

"During that argument police will allege the son stabbed his father several times. The ambulance was called with the assistance of neighbours, and unfortunately, the father was unable to be revived and he passed away at the scene."

The Police Dog Unit was called in to track down the 21-year-old who was found in neighbouring parkland 1.5 kilometres away from the scene.

He was taken to Waratah Police Station where he was refused bail and charged with murder to appear at court today.

Detective Chief Inspector Mahon said the man refused to be interviewed by police.

The phone which the argument was allegedly over was found in parkland by the Police Dog Unit while they were searching for the son.

Detective Chief Inspector Mahon is thankful to the neighbours who tried to help the man in what was a tragic situation.

"It's happened in a person's front yard and they've witnessed it. So it was just tragic for everyone. Especially at this time of the year being Christmas."