Aaron Hegedus charged with murder of Frank Smith in Wellington

A 31-year-old man will remain behind bars on remand after he was charged with allegedly shooting a popular handyman who later died in NSW’s central west.

A 31-year-old man accused of murdering a much-loved handyman and grandfather in the NSW central west has fronted court for the first time since his arrest.

Homicide squad detectives arrested Aaron Hegedus outside a KFC restaurant in Wellington on Wednesday after an extensive 18-month investigation into the suspicious death of 48-year-old Frank Smith.

Police arrest Wellington man Aaron Hegedus outside a KFC restaurant on October 27, 2021. Picture: NSW Police

Police charged Mr Hegedus with murder and he entered no plea and did not apply for bail during a brief appearance in Dubbo Local Court on Thursday.

Mr Hegedus is alleged to have shot Mr Smith in the abdomen on the morning of April 27, 2020.

Frank Smith was shot in April 2020. Picture: NSW Police

After the alleged shooting, Mr Smith stumbled into a front yard on Thornton Street and was taken to Wellington Hospital where he later died.

The shooting sent shockwaves through the Wellington community and distraught members of Mr Smith’s family, desperate for answers, made numerous public appeals for anyone with information about what happened to come forward.

Police seized electronics and other items of interest from a home in Wellington after Mr Hegedus was arrested. Picture: NSW Police

Mr Hegedus’s arrest followed a breakthrough in the case which came in June after Strike Force Libani detectives found a .22 Ruger rifle in Wellington which was examined by ballistics experts and later linked to the alleged murder.

In court Mr Hegedus appeared unrepresented, however he said he would seek legal advice when Magistrate Roger Prowse asked if he wanted to get a lawyer.

When asked if he wanted to apply for bail, Mr Hegedus said “nup”.

He was remanded in custody and the case was adjourned to a date in January.