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."

Sophisticated drug house uncovered at Kotara

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A tip off from a member of the public led police to an elaborate drug house in Kotara this morning.

At about 8:30am police executed a search warrant for the house on Marshall Street and uncovered the sophisticated hydroponic drug set-up, but no one was found to be home.

More than 150 cannabis plants were found in various stages of growth and Detective Inspector Peter Mahon says the house was completely transformed.

"Each room in the premises, about five of, were in various stages of growing cannabis plants. The bathroom was set up as a filtration/fertilising watering system for the whole house. Power had been diverted from the line coming into the  house and there was a sophisticated network of electricity cables, switches, and cables were also located."

As a result of the power being diverted, Energy Australia was brought in to disconnect the power to make it safe for officers to continue their search of the house

Police Rescue, forensic services, detectives from Newcastle and some linked to the target action group as well as external agencies were called in to remove the plants and dismantle the set-up.

"Investigations are ongoing. At this stage what we're basically doing is dismantling the premises and then go to the next level of identifying who is responsible for this offence," said Inspector Mahon.

Police aren't in a position to comment on just how much the plants would be worth, but they can be sure it would be quite the enterprise and some of the plants were mature enough to be close to being harvested.

"If anyone is out there and wants to provide further information in relation to those responsible, by all means, contact us here at Newcastle Police or call Crime Stoppers."

Crime Stoppers can be reached on 1800 333 000.

Police dismantling a hydroponic set up at Kotara. 150 cannabis plants found following a tip off from the public. @nbnnews pic.twitter.com/QTvLUnKid1

— Meredith Gibbs (@meredith_gibbs) September 6, 2017