Nowra Lane death: Michael Kerr named as man found stabbed in street

The name of the 51-year-old man who was found stabbed and unconscious in a Nowra laneway, just a few hundred metres frm the police station, has been revealed.

Police continue to appeal for witnesses after a man, aged 51, died shortly after he was found with significant stab wounds on the corner of Nowra Lane and Worrigee St in the Nowra CBD.

Michael Kerr, 51, had only moved to the region a month prior to two men finding him bleeding and unconscious around 4.20am on Tuesday, January 4, just a few hundred metres from Nowra Police Station.

The men called emergency services who transported Mr Kerr to Shoalhaven Hospital. He was set to be flown to a Sydney hospital, but died as his air support was being arranged.

Police sources have confirmed he was found with a stab wound to his left upper shoulder and that he was known to police, living at the Pines Caravan Park, in nearby Greenwell Point, having moved from Albury about four weeks earlier.

The man was taken to Shoalhaven Hospital where he later died. Picture: Google Maps

Commander of the South Coast Police District, Superintendent Greg Moore, wouldn’t rule out homicide, confirming a Strike Force had been set up to investigate.

“We are treating this death as suspicious,” Supt Moore said.

“We have a well resourced Strike Force Lodder established to get to the bottom of what’s actually occurred.

“The police from Nowra were dispatched and it was a timely response, but unfortunately the male was unable to be saved.

Supt Moore said he could not rule out the possibility of the man’s death being a drug-related crime, nor whether it was linked to the town’s homeless community with the man found only a few blocks from the Shoalhaven Homeless Hub.

“We are obviously talking to our networks and sources in the community,” he said.

“That will be ongoing through the day. Our investigators are not ruling anything in or out – we are not ruling any line of inquiry in or out.”

An unconscious man with injuries to his abdomen was found on the corner of Nowra Lane and Worrigee St in Nowra before dawn on Tuesday, January 4, 2022. He was later pronounced dead at Shoalhaven Hospital. Picture: Dylan Arvela

The superintendent was keen to ensure residents felt safe in Nowra’s streets.

“I can reassure the community that Nowra is a very safe place and it’s a tight-knit community,” he said.

“When crimes occur, we have a strong track record of getting to the bottom of it.

“We are certainly confident we will get to the bottom of this situation so there is no reason for alarm.”

The scene, between Officeworks and Petbarn, was blocked off for a large portion of the day, causing significant traffic delays around the town’s CBD.

Anyone with information, including dashcam or CCTV footage, is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.