Mayfield murder arrest: Man’s body found in Newcastle home

A man has been charged with murder after a body was found in a Newcastle home last night.

Forensic experts at the house where the man’s body was found. Picture: David Swift

A man has been charged with murder after his older partner’s body was found in a Newcastle home last night.

Zachary Joel Dowling, 35, is charged with killing the 63-year-old whose body was found in the bedroom of a share home on Regent Street in Mayfield about 6.30pm.

An hour later Dowling was arrested in the suburb of Argenton, south of Newcastle, and taken to Waratah Police Station.

He was charged with one count of murder and is due to front Newcastle Local Court on Monday.

Zachary Joel Dowling, 35, is charged with murdering a 63-year-old man whose body was found in the bedroom of a share home on Regent Street in Mayfield about 6.30pm. Picture: David Swift

Police at the seen on Sunday. Picture: David Swift

Homicide detectives are now investigating the incident and the relationship between the two men, who are believed to have been partners. Picture: David Swift

A friend of Dowling said the pair had caught up earlier this week at the same Regent St boarding home, where he had found a room after being homeless at numerous times in recent years.

Homicide detectives are now investigating the incident and the relationship between the two men, which is believed to have been romantic.

One neighbour on Regent St said police had been consistently called to the boarding home over the years, but she realised this incident was more serious when forensic detectives arrived.

“It instantly looked pretty bloody serious, the whole street was blocked off and a crime scene was set up,” she said.

“When I bought this house it was owned by a lovely little family, but since becoming a boarding house its been a source of horror for me.

“But this is a by far the most awful scenario.”

A post-mortem is due to be carried out on the man’s body on Monday.