Best friend of Angry Anderson’s son faces court after being charged with murder
THE bashing death of rocker Angry Anderson’s son Liam and the charging of his best friend, Matthew Flame with his murder has been described as a “double tragedy” for two northern beaches families and “two very, very good boys”.
Manly
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THE alleged bashing death of rocker Angry Anderson’s son Liam and the charging of his close friend with his murder were described in Manly Local Court on Monday as a “double tragedy” for two northern beaches families.
Lawyer Charles Waterstreet, barrister for Matthew Flame, 20, of Narraweena said “lightning struck” at the same time for the accused and the deceased.
“It’s a double tragedy for two very very good families and two very very good boys,” Mr Waterstreet said outside Manly Local Court.
Mr Flame, an apprentice plumber from Narraweena, was charged with Mr Anderson’s murder by Northern Beaches detectives early Monday afternoon.
Police allege that Mr Anderson, 26, who lived with his father at Beacon Hill, died early on Sunday morning after he was bashed by Mr Flame in Pavilion Reserve, Queenscliff.
In a media statement police confirmed the alleged offender and Mr Anderson were known to each other.
Officers from Northern Beaches Police Area Command were called to an assault attended and found a man unconscious with serious head injuries,” the statement said.
Mr Anderson was treated by paramedics at the scene, but died a short time later.
Police said that during his arrest, Mr Flame had to be restrained by several officers and capsicum sprayed before he was put into handcuffs in the park, just off Pavilion Rd.
Outside court Mr Waterstreet said his client and Mr Anderson were close.
“What has happened is lightning has struck twice on two individuals and their families.”
When asked how his client is feeling, Mr Waterstreet said: “Everyone is devastated”.
“They were childhood friends, best friends.”
In court Mr Waterstreet asked if Mr Flame could undergo a mental health assessment while in custody.
Outside of court he said an examination of his client’s mental health would provide some “clarity”.
As he entered court, Mr Flame smiled at his distraught mother, who had been to visit him in the cells at Manly Police Station.
The murder charge comes as the northern beaches community remembered the son of Australian rock legend Angry Anderson as “a loving little soul”, who was popular among the community.
Throughout Monday there was been a steady stream of people leaving flowers at a makeshift memorial where Mr Anderson was found.
Flowers included two bunches of roses, which one visitor said was a mark of respect for Angry Anderson, lead singer of Rose Tattoo.
A family friend, Michelle, whose son went to Brookvale Public School and The Forest High, said Liam was always a popular boy in the playground.
“He was so loved at school, he was a loving little soul,” she said.
“His was such a short life, he could have been anything.”
A resident, who lives across the road from the park, told the Manly Daily she heard what sounded like “animal noises and strange grunting” just before 6am.
“I looked out my window and couldn’t see anything and it took me a while to work out where these weird noises were coming from,” she said.
“At first I thought it was an exercise class, because they sometimes use the park for training.
“But then I thought it might have been party goers coming home or having a drink.
“It sounded like animal noises and strange grunting.
“When I looked again the police had a man in handcuffs. There was a lot of shouting. He was standing up and they kept telling him to sit down.”
Flame did not apply for bail and was it formerly refused.
Magistrate Christoper Longley adjourned the matter to Manly Local Court on January 29.