‘Difficult situations’: Former private schoolboy accused of killing man on morning walk

An elite private school has spoken out after a former student was arrested for the alleged murder of a beloved father on his morning walk.

A former Adelaide private school boy accused of murdering a beloved father on his morning walk had been in a “difficult situation” when he was taken in during Year 8, the educational institution has revealed.

Rylie Lewis Everson-Clare, 20, was arrested on Sunday evening for the alleged murder of Aaron Stahlhut, 54, in leafy North Adelaide earlier that day.

He appeared before Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday afternoon where he was remanded in custody with a charge determination hearing set for August 21.

The magistrate also ordered mental health reports into Mr Everson-Clare to assess whether he would be fit to stand trial.

Rylie Everson-Clare, 20. Picture: Facebook

Mr Everson-Clare, a resident of North Adelaide, is a former student of the elite Westminster School in Marion, one of the state’s most expensive schools where Year 12 tuition costs just under $29,000.

Westminster School principal Simon Shepherd wrote to current and former families on Tuesday to address “media interest” in the alleged murder.

“Throughout the school’s history, Westminster has proudly been a community-minded school, striving to help young people in difficult situations,” Mr Shepherd said in the email seen by news.com.au.

“Midway through 2018, we took Rylie into Year 8 to help provide him with a sense of stability as he undertook secondary education. Rylie completed Year 9 in 2019 at which time the school was informed that he would not be returning, apparently to continue his education in the Barossa Valley.

Mr Everson-Clare faced Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday. Picture: 7News

“To our knowledge, Rylie has not had any further contact with the school since he left.

Even though former student Rylie was only at Westminster for a short time, the media interest around him being a Westminster Old Scholar has intensified today. You are likely to see Westminster School featured during the coming days as the local media continues reporting on this high-profiled case.

Mr Stahlhut was found unconscious on his morning walk through a North Adelaide park on Sunday. Picture: SAPOL

He is remembered as a kind and loving father. Picture: LinkedIn

“Although unlikely, if you find yourself being approached by the media because of a connection to Westminster School, specifically this Old Scholar, please do not hesitate to contact the school for support.

“We are not intending to provide any further communications about this tragedy. Notwithstanding, our thoughts will always be with the victim’s family and everyone who has been sadly affected by this devastating situation.”

Mr Everson-Clare is a former Westminster School student. Picture: Facebook

On Facebook, Mr Everson-Clare often posted videos doing scooter tricks at a local skatepark, nights out with friends and memes about Fortnite.

An account on video game streaming site Twitch, apparently belonging to Mr Everson-Clare, was last active seven months ago.

On Sunday, chilling footage captured Mr Everson-Clare and Mr Stahlhut both walking with a coffee in hand on the morning of the alleged murder.

Mr Stahlhut, from Marden, had been on his usual morning walk at the time, police said.

He was found in Brougham Gardens. He was given CPR for half an hour and rushed to hospital but died a short time later.

Aaron Stahlhut seen walking down O’Connell Street before he died. Picture: 7News

Police confirmed blood was found at the scene that they believe was from the victim, though they are yet to determine the exact circumstances.

CCTV footage obtained by 7News showed Mr Everson-Clare walking past the camera at 6.18am. Seven minutes earlier, Mr Stahlhut was seen walking in the opposite direction.

Mr Everson-Clare, a skinny young man, sported a shock of black hair and wore a grey Adidas T-shirt as he stood quietly in the dock on Monday.

His defence counsel told the court that his client would not apply for bail.

The charge sheet, seen by NewsWire, did not provide any specifics of the murder allegation.

Tributes to Mr Stahlhut poured in following his death, with friends remembering him as a “kind, generous man” and a loving father.

Mr Everson-Clare seen on CCTV minutes later. Picture: 7News

A woman laid flowers at the scene on Monday and paid respects to the man’s teenage daughter.

“She was the apple of his eyes,” she told the Adelaide Advertiser.

Mr Stahlhut was a keen NRL fan and took a walk around the park every morning, the woman recalled.

She described Mr Stahlhut’s alleged murder as a “shock”.

“It doesn’t make sense,” she said.

Online, more tributes poured in for the Adelaide father.

“Cannot begin to understand how or why this would happen to you,” a woman wrote on social media.

“Heartfelt condolences to your beloved daughter.”

A swarm of detectives were on the scene on Sunday following Mr Stahlhut’s death.

“It’s an unexplained death in a public space,” Detective Inspector Fraser Huntley told reporters on Sunday.

— with NCA NewsWire

Originally published as ‘Difficult situations’: Former private schoolboy accused of killing man on morning walk