Man expected to be charged with murder after body found at a Cowandilla home in Adelaide’s western suburbs

Neighbours have spoken of how they awoken to a crime scene on Tuesday morning, with police investigating a possible murder in the western suburbs.

A man’s body has been found at a home in Adelaide’s western suburbs and police are alleging he was murdered.

The body of the 60-year-old man was discovered in Cowandilla early on Tuesday morning and taken away just after 8am. A 32-year-old man, believed to be the housemate of the deceased, has been arrested and is expected to be charged with murder.

Harley Rd was blocked off later that morning as a large police presence at the scene began doorknocking neighbouring homes.

A series of shop break-ins have led police to a grizzly scene at Cowandilla. Detectives have arrested a man who they found injured at Torrensville and is now accused of killing his housemate. Picture: 7NEWS

A trail of destruction at several businesses – Subway, Drakes and TerryWhite Chemmart – and the discovery of an injured man on a main road led police to the scene of the alleged murder.

Police were first called to a series of alarm activations at Torrensville businesses on Henley Beach Rd about 12.30am Tuesday.

Police arrived to find several businesses had been broken into with windows smashed. Officers found a suspect at the scene – a 32-year-old man.

Police are at the scene of a Cowandilla home where they located the body of a 60-year-old man. Picture: Talara McHugh

Detectives hunt for clues at the Cowandilla home. Picture: Talara McHugh

The man’s body was found at the Cowandilla house on Tuesday morning: Picture: NewsWire / Dean Martin

A broken glass window at another business. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

One of the businesses that police are treating as a crime scene. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

The man had suffered a leg injury as a result of the break-ins.

Police say inquiries with this man led police to his nearby Cowandilla home where they found the body of the 60-year-old man.

Police believe both men lived at the Harley St home and are known to each other.

The 32-year-old Cowandilla man was arrested and is receiving treatment for his leg injury.

Police say the man is expected to be charged with murder.

“It is expected the man will be charged with murder and other related property offences once his medical treatment is completed,” a statement said.

Later on Tuesday morning, police could be seen removing brown paper bags of evidence, as well as a small pocket knife.

It’s likely access to the street will remain blocked off for the rest of the morning.

Residents in the street were shocked to hear what had happened in the usually peaceful neighbourhood.

“The suburb’s quiet normally,” local Peter Alexander said.

“I don’t know the people there, I don’t know what’s going on.”

The Cowandilla home at 10 Harley Street where they located the body of a 60-year-old man. Picture: NewsWire / Dean Martin

Police tape blocking access from both ends of the street was removed later that afternoon with residents seen pottering about shortly after.

In complete contrast to the horrific event that unfolded on their street hours earlier, one resident tended to their front garden in the sun while another tinkered around with their car.

An elderly woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said that there had never been any issues with the residents of the rental at 10 Harley.

She had woken up in the early hours of the morning to “bright lights” and police outside on the street.

“I saw bright lights, obviously the police talking, and there were lots of police cars, ambulance,” she said.

“My husband did hear something was said last night while he was watching the tennis (...) something about my room, my room.

“It’s very sad, very sad.”

Up the street on Hounslow Avenue, a teen was also woken up by the sound of a man shouting around midnight.

“I heard a man yelling in pain,” she said.

“It was pretty late at night as well, so it kind of woke me up.

“I woke up (again) at like 9 o’clock, I saw cops and then I was like, oh, I wonder what happened because I saw tape and I saw an investigation van.

“It just happened not even a few metres away from me so it’s pretty scary.”

The glass door at a nearby Subway was smashed in overnight. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

John Barr, who owns Subway, told The Advertiser a rock was allegedly thrown through one of the glass front doors before it was retrieved, before another door was broken and the suspect left.

Mr Barr, who has owned the business for 11 years, said nothing was taken from the store, with the smashed in glass door, a couple of broken tiles and “lost sleep” the only damage.

“I got a call about 12:30am from building security,” Mr Barr said.

“I thought it was a hoax call at first.”

Anyone with any information that may assist with the investigation is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.