NSW south coast town in shock as mum, 66, charged over son’s death
A SOUTH-COAST mother charged with the manslaughter of her 27-year-old son was “very upset”, police said. Daniel Russell died after being stabbed in the chest.
NSW
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A SOUTH-COAST mother charged with the manslaughter of her 27-year-old son was “very upset”, police said.
Paramedics rushed to the modest fibro home of 66-year-old Avian Meller just before 9.30pm on Monday, to find her son Daniel Russell with severe stab wounds to his chest.
Mr Russell died in the back of an ambulance en route to hospital.
Meller was arrested at the scene and taken to Nowra Police Station where she was charged with manslaughter. Police allowed her to return home on conditional bail.
She is due to front Nowra Local Court on Friday.
Inspector Deborah O’Reilly could not confirm if there was a history of violence between the mother and son but said Meller was distressed.
“It’s my understanding there was a verbal altercation that led up to it … she’s understandably very upset,” Insp O’Reilly said.
“Any incident like this is very tragic.”
Mr Russell’s friends mourned his death on social media.
“God bless Daniel and I know you’re in a better place now and I’ll see you one day,” one friend wrote on Facebook in the wake of the manslaughter charge.
Sanctuary Point mortgage broker Ellen Thornthwaite, who spent Tuesday morning meeting with other local business owners, said the community was “shocked” and “saddened” by the news.
“A lot of people are very shocked - I am myself,” she said.
“I’m sure there are many people who will be impacted by this, and having no idea what the circumstances are behind it - it’s a tragedy regardless.”
She said there were known issues with drugs in the area but something like this was totally unexpected.
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