Kevin Smith charged with murder of Daniel Pettersson at Jesmond

Kevin Smith, the person at the centre of a six-day manhunt following the Jesmond stabbing death of Daniel Pettersson, has been arrested and charged with murder.

Kevin Smith will face court on Thursday charged with the alleged Jesmond stabbing murder of Daniel Pettersson.

Smith, 37, handed himself in to Newcastle police station on Wednesday following a six-day manhunt where he was formally taken into custody and later charged with Mr Pettersson’s murder.

Emergency services were called to a home belonging to the family of Mr Pettersson’s ex-girlfriend on Michael St, Jesmond, on the afternoon of January 6 to find the 34-year-old Wallsend man suffering a single stab wound to the chest.

Paramedics worked on trying to stabilise Mr Pettersson but he died on the way to hospital after suffering significant blood loss.

Daniel Pettersson died after being stabbed at Jesmond.

Strike Force Mantillus was formed and began searching for Smith, who had recently moved into the Michael St home belonging to the family of Mr Pettersson’s ex-girlfriend.

The manhunt included public pleas for Smith to hand himself in after an announcement that an warrant had been issued for Smith’s arrest.

Detectives were informed by criminal solicitor Mark Ramsland on Wednesday afternoon that Smith would attend Newcastle police station.

Kevin Smith, 37, had been wanted by virtue of an outstanding arrest warrant for murder. Picture: NSW Police

He walked into the Church St building just before 4pm and was formally taken into custody before being charged with murder.

He was refused bail and will appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday.

Police will allege Mr Pettersson died after an altercation with Smith.

The scene of the stabbing on Michael Rd, Jesmond. Picture: Dan Proudman

The search for Smith lasted almost a week and included a huge amount of police resources.

It also prompted senior police to warn any friends of associates of Smith that they were open to being charged with serious offences, such as accessory after the fact to murder, if they assisted Smith.