Liam Anderson dies after assault on Sydney’s northern beaches
FRIENDS have laid tributes and gathered to remember their “funny and cheeky” mate Liam, after the 26-year-old son of rocker Angry Anderson died from a brutal attack in a Sydney park early this morning.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
FRIENDS have laid tributes and gathered to remember their “funny and cheeky” mate Liam, after the 26-year-old son of rocker Angry Anderson died from a brutal attack in a Sydney park early this morning.
Mathew Flame, 20, was arrested at the scene and was expected to be charged with murder of Liam Anderson later on Sunday. Police have stressed that the two men knew each other and the incident, which occurred about 6am on Sunday, was not a random attack.
Residents said they heard moan of agony coming from the park for up to half an hour as they woke but assumed they were from people exercising in the popular beachside area.
When police arrived, it allegedly took several officers and the use of capsicum spray to pull Flame off Mr Anderson.
Angry Anderson, the lead singer of rock band Rose Tattoo, has four children.
His management company this afternoon requested privacy for the family as they come to grips with the tragedy.
“With the matter in the hands of NSW Police, the family will not be making any comment at this stage, nor are we as Anderson’s management in a position to offer any comment on their behalf,” spokesman Scot Crawford said.
Detective Inspector Michael Boutouridis this morning said the man in custody knew Mr Anderson.
“The 26-year-old died at the scene and he is a local and the 20-year-old offender was arrested and taken to Manly Police Station,” he said.
He appealed to witnesses to come forward and tell police what happened at Pavilion Reserve before police were called just after 6am this morning.
MORE NEWS:
Inside drug lab used to make deadly Defqon. 1 pills
Executed gangster’s funeral shrouded in fear
Kyle and Jackie O producer quits as another staffer is sacked
“I am confident at this stage this is not a random attack,” he said.
“In fact I am certain the two fellows knew each other, both young men, I don’t know the circumstances that lead to them being at the reserve this morning at Queenscliff, that’s why I am appealing to the community to assist us.
“It was quite a bloody scene, the man we have in custody was violent and it took a number of police officers to subdue and arrest him.
“Capsicum spray was used, OC spray and significant force was used to arrest him.
“I want to deliver a strong message that this was not a random attack, we have one offender in custody and there are none outstanding.”
He said the man in custody was co-operating with police and was expected to be charged with murder later today.
What residents heard
On Sunday afternoon, multiple neighbours told The Daily Telegraph they were woken by the sound of a man moaning in agony for at least 30 minutes before police arrived and yelled “get down” to another man.
Sandy Lewis, 53, said she got out of bed as her neighbours were calling police.
“It was a high pitched moaning,” she said. “It s`ounded like someone really cranky. It was a really strange sort of noise … we got up and looked around and next thing the police were there. I heard them yelling ‘get down’ … I’d already seen somebody else calling the police. It’s not very good at all, it’s very sad … you’ve got HSC finishing so you get a lot of people coming back late from parties so you don’t think something like that is going to happen.”
Resident Kim Luker said she also heard the man moaning in agony.
“I just heard a lot of — say for at least half an hour — moaning,” she said.
“We thought it was really loud exhaling (and) yelling. We should have looked out, but we didn’t — because we’ve looked out so many times over 18 years. And it just sounded like boot camp, a guy doing boot camp — running up the hill and exhaling. It’s pretty horrible.”
Neighbour Andy Vogt said he saw police arresting a man.
“It’s just such a peaceful area and then I went downstairs and saw the police car coming and arresting that guy, telling him to get down, then I thought ‘OK there was a bit more going on down there’,” he said.
“I started to jog and saw they had a guy down there telling him to stay down — that’s all I saw. He was just a guy sitting on the grass … (at) 6.15am — something like that.
“You think it’s something completely normal — that the noise comes from a boot camp or some people working out which is a very common noise here on the beaches.
“So yeah it feels a bit bad that you know that you’ve heard something and now you know it’s something really bad.”
Resident Mick Devin, 72, said the park was safe and regularly used by young children.
“You see little kids up on the rock there — and I mean like my granddaughters, 7, 8, 9-year-olds,” he said.
“They play on the rock, it’s just that … do we expect that? No, of course you don’t.”
Pavilion Reserve is located in an affluent area of Queenscliff.
Emergency workers were seen washing away a large pool of blood right next to the intersection of Crown and Bridge roads near a carpark and a footpath.
Mates pay tribute
In the afternoon, more than a dozen of Liam’s close mates visited where he died to pay their respects.
They cracked open Coronas and shared a laugh while remembering their “funny and cheeky” mate in a circle under the sun.
But their laughs soon gave way to tears as they tied roses to a pole and left a touching note.
“Liam, there are no words to express our sorrow in losing you,” the card reads.
“Our tears we can wipe away — the ache in our hearts will always stay.
“Beautiful Liam now rest in peace.
“We will always miss your funny, cheeky ways.
“You were a loving friend and a great mate.
“All our love. Casey, Emma, Barb, Tony, Rach, Jas, Nick, Rhys and Brad. XXX.”