Mooroopna’s Aaron James Hare charged with murder of Echuca’s Martin George Hare

A Mooroopna man has been charged with murder after a man was found dead in an Echuca home.

Mooroopna’s Aaron James Hare was charged with the murder of a Echuca man on Melbourne Cup weekend.

A Mooroopna man has been charged with murder after a man was found dead in an Echuca home on Melbourne Cup weekend.

Aaron James Hare, 30, fronted the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on November 4 after he was charged earlier in the day by homicide detectives.

Police will allege Mr Hare killed 56-year-old Echuca man Martin George Hare at a home on McSwain Rd, Echuca after they were called to the scene at 7.30pm on November 2.
It is believed the men were known to each other, but their exact relation is unclear at this stage.

The court heard Mr Hare suffered from schizophrenia and his lawyers asked he be seen by a psychiatric registrar as a matter of urgency.

Mr Hare was deemed unfit to be interviewed by way of mental impairment.

Police sought permission to obtain DNA from the accused.

The court heard DNA evidence already obtained may have been done so by unqualified people and could lead to pre-trial issues as the matter progressed to the Supreme Court.

Mr Hare was unable to provide consent to providing DNA, the court was told, and the DNA evidence may have to be destroyed.

Mr Hare made no application for bail and was remanded into custody, where he has been since his arrest.

He will next face court for a committal mention on May 12, 2025.