Shannon Weller: Gladesville guitar killing, tributes to dad of eight
Tributes have been paid to a young dad who was allegedly bashed to death with a guitar in his own bed. Court documents have revealed the ferocity of the alleged attack, as friends and family fundraise to replace the blood-soaked items in his home.
Northern District Times
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The man killed after an intruder allegedly beat him to death with a guitar while he was in bed has been described as a hard-working and loving father of eight by his family.
Tributes have been flooding in for Shannon Weller, 36, as his friends and family struggle to come to terms with the tragic events that unfolded in a suburban unit block last week.
Mr Weller died from his injuries in Royal North Shore Hospital on Sunday afternoon, but in his last selfless act he gave the gift of life to three others after donating his organs.
Mr Weller and his wife had woken in their Wharf Rd Gladesville unit to the sight of a man standing over their bed on the morning of March 23 before he was allegedly hit with the guitar.
So vicious was the attack, a fundraising effort has been set by his family up to replace the blood-soaked items in the home, including the couple’s mattress.
A “hard working” roof plumber, Mr Weller leaves behind eight children.
“His organs were donated and will save three lives,” his mother-in-law Johann Thornton wrote.
“My daughter is unable to pay for a funeral. He has left behind his wife and eight beautiful children.
The tributes come as documents tendered to Lismore Local Court this week describe the attack as a brutal act of violence.
Michele Noel Risi, 35, was charged with Mr Weller’s murder on Sunday night after he was located more than 700km away in Byron Bay following a six-day manhunt.
The court documents revealed Mr Risi was refused bail by police because of what they alleged was the “extremely serious and brutal offence” that resulted in Mr Weller’s death.
“(Mr Risi) fled the Sydney area after his commission of said offence in order to avoid apprehension,” the documents stated.
It is understood Risi and Mr Weller were known to each other.
Police had located Risi after detectives tracked his movements north of Sydney by watching his bank transactions.
He was denied bail on Monday and is due to appear in court again later this month.