The faces South Australia’s 12 alleged homicide victims of 2024

In just 12 months, twelve grandmothers, fathers, siblings and friends died by violence – but they are more than a statistic. These are their stories.

Every death that occurs in our society, through violence or negligence, is an unmistakeable and irrevocable tragedy – but not all of them are, in the eyes of the law, murder.

Under SA law, there are key and essential differences in individual allegations that see untimely deaths divided into categories including murder, manslaughter, and causing serious harm.

To December 2024, more than 12 incidents have been investigated, by SA Police’s Major Crime branch and other departments, as potential homicides.

Of those, all but two have resulted in arrests – and, of those arrests, nine cases are either being investigated or prosecuted as alleged murders.

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That number represents a decrease in the alleged murder rate – down from 17 in 2023 and 11 in 2022 – but comes as cold comfort to those left behind.

The families of these people face an unimaginable Christmas – the first of many without their cherished mother, father, child, sibling or friend.

February 3: Steve and Antoinette Tozer

Steve and Antoinette Tozer. Picture: File

The bodies of Antoinette Tozer, 76, and her Steve son, 55, were found in their home at Rosetta St, Rosewater, by relatives the day after they died.

Their relatives called emergency services and, a short time later, Joe Campbell – who was staying at a Housing Trust property across the street – was arrested.

Mr Tozer’s son Joshua remembered his father as “loving” and his grandmother as a lovely woman”.

Mr Tozer’s former partner, Denise Palmer, said he had “always been in my heart”.

Mr Campbell has yet to plead to two counts of murder and one count of assaulting an emergency worker.

He will next face court in January.

February 27: Dakota Woodford

Dakota Woodford. Picture: File

Dakota Woodford, known to friends as “Koda”, was stabbed at his grandparents’ home at Henry St, Paralowie.

The qualified concreter was rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital but subsequently died as a result of his injuries.

Almost three hours after the incident, and 40km away at Sheidow Park, SA Police arrested Sobhan Shamsoddini and charged him with murder.

In September, Mr Shamsoddini – a qualified painter known by Mr Woodford – pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter and not guilty to murder, but prosecutors declined to accept his plea.

He will face the Supreme Court in March.

March 21: Man, 67

On January 20, a man from Scotdesco Community was found at Bookabie, 100 kilometres west of Ceduna, with a serious head injury.

A day later, a man and a woman were arrested and charged with robbery, no charges have been laid in relation to homicide.

The alleged victim was taken to hospital but, on March 21, died as a result of his injury.

April 10: William Holdback

Hours prior to his death, William Holdback, 21, was seen in Welland ringing a stranger’s doorbell while carrying his skateboard in his hand.

William Holdback. Picture: SA Police

Police have said he was seeking information about a man who, he claimed, had threatened him with a knife some weeks before in the same area.

At 1.21am, SA Police allege, Mr Holdback fled from a car down Barrpowell St and, while being pursued by another man, tripped and fell.

Despite the efforts of passers-by, Mr Holdback subsequently died as a result of stab wounds.

Two men were arrested and charged with murder over the incident – Liam Slann, 26, and Brian Slann, 51 – who will next face court in January and March, respectively.

The duo have yet to enter pleas to the charge.

In April, a clinician raised concerns in court regarding Liam Slann’s mental health.

Mr Holdback’s mother, Kylee Butterick, has paid tribute to her “most beautiful boy”, as has his former school, Concordia College.

The school said Mr Holdback had “touched the lives of many” with his “kindness, creativity and resilience”.

May 14: Man, 46

SA Police were called to Coober Pedy following reports a man had collapsed on a footpath.

The man, from Indulkana, was found to have been stabbed in the chest – he was rushed to hospital but died as a result of his injuries.

A Coober Pedy man, 47, was subsequently arrested and charged with murder.

Police said the men were known to one another.

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September 10: Scot Phillips

Scot Phillips. Picture: File

According to his family, Scot Phillips “just wanted to be loved” – but he died in what SA Police allege was a pre-planned attack.

Mr Phillips, 19, died outside of his Carey Rd, Seaton home as a result of multiple stab wounds allegedly inflicted by Cooper Benny.

Mr Benny, 19, has yet to plead to a number of charges including murder – police allege he lured Mr Phillips outside before attacking him.

They further allege Mr Phillips had just returned, with his housemate and his friend’s girlfriend, from the Seaton Hotel when the attack occurred

Mr Phillips, they allege, was attacked by Mr Benny – who was known to him – after the power was cut to his home and he went outside to investigate.

Mr Benny will next face court in February.

November 7: Bill Frangos

Bill Frangos.

The body found in a house fire at Essex St, Woodville Gardens, was identified by police as that of Bill Frangos, 72.

It was found after a passer-by raised alarms about an “orange glow emanating” from the home.

Mr Frangos’ large dog was found unharmed by the flames in the rear yard.

Detective Acting Inspector of the Major Crime unit Matthew Fitzpatrick said police believed that “Bill was murdered, and the house was set on fire to deliberately destroy evidence”.

“We are maintaining an open mind in respect to the motive for the murder, as well as who may be responsible for Bill’s murder,” he said at the time.

“Despite the fire, we’ve recovered evidence from within the house and we are receiving excellent co-operation from the community.”

Mr Frangos, he said, was known to police for prior involvement in cannabis.

“We are certainly keeping an open-mind in respect to whether (drugs) are a motive.”

November 8: Lewis Parkin

Remembered as a “good time” and a “very upbeat” person, Lewis Parkin, 23, died as a result of injuries sustained near the West End Motel and Backpackers on Hindley St.

Lewis Parkin. Picture: Supplied

The son of an SA Police officer, he was praised by his sister as her “best friend” and a “beautiful brother”.

A man, 42, from St Mary’s, was arrested and charged with Mr Parkin’s alleged murder – his identity has been suppressed, and he has yet to enter a plea.

The man made no application for bail following his arrest and was remanded in custody to face court again in May.