Adrian Trett in a “disagreement” at a get-together before his death

A MAN who died after being found badly beaten on a footpath at Mannum had been in an altercation with acquaintances at a house shortly before his death, his heartbroken family has revealed.

Belinda Bishop and Mira Trett. Picture: Keryn Stevens

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A MAN who died after being found badly beaten on a footpath at Mannum had been in an altercation with acquaintances at a house shortly before his death, his heartbroken family has revealed.

It comes as Adrian Trett’s mother Mira Trett and ex-wife and good friend Belinda Bishop appeal for those responsible for the 45-year-old’s death to turn themselves in to authorities.

SA Police announced on Friday they were treating the disability pensioner’s death as a homicide.

Mr Trett was found unresponsive and wrapped in blankets on a David St footpath on the morning of April 23, this year.

The former cabinet maker’s scooter was propped up next to him.

The Mannum resident, who had moved from the southern suburbs to the town just several months prior to his death, had suffered a serious head injury and died in the Royal Adelaide Hospital two weeks later.

Adrian Trett.

Police initially investigated if Mr Trett’s injuries were caused by a scooter accident but now suspected he was murdered.

Ms Bishop — the mother of Mr Trett’s two children, Stephanie, 23, and Nathan, 21 — said there were many unanswered questions surrounding her former husband’s death but the family had been told he was involved in an argument with some people at an Asmus St house shortly before he was discovered on the footpath.

“There was a bit of a get-together at the house, some words had been exchanged … there was a bit of a disagreement, and that’s all we really know,” she said.

Ms Bishop, 43, said the family always believed Mr Trett had been murdered.

“There was too much bruising on his body for it to be anything but (caused) someone else,” she said.

Mrs Trett, 73, of Marion, said it was “heartbreaking” to think her “very charismatic, very likeable” son had been deliberately killed.

“It seemed to be that he gravitated towards these wrong people,” she said.

Mrs Trett urged the person or people responsible to come forward.

“If you’ve got a heart and conscious, please step forward and tell us what happened,” she said.

Belinda Bishop and Mira Trett. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Ms Bishop, who divorced Mr Trett about 18 years ago but remained close friends with him, also appealed for anyone who had any information about the circumstances surrounding her ex-husband’s death to contact police.

“I just can’t stress enough that the slightest bit of information can actually help … especially at the moment,” she said.

“And if you’re hiding something to protect someone else, maybe now is not the time to protect them anymore.

“We’re all suffering — The kids aren’t coping too well.”

Ms Bishop also opened up about the last time she spoke to Mr Trett.

“Five days prior to his death he called me, laughing over nothing like he does,” she said.

“We’d organised to do a barbecue catch-up with the kids and we were talking about going up to him at Mannum.”

Sadly, that catch-up never happened. Mr Trett’s funeral was held at Centennial Park, Pasadena on Friday, June 8.

Mrs Trett said authorities should “absolutely” reintroduce capital punishment in SA.

“You take somebody’s life, you go,” she said.

Anyone with information that may assist is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online.