34-year-old Echuca man charged with murder of Matt Alexander
A 34-year-old Echuca man has been charged over the shooting death of Cohuna father Matt Alexander. It comes as details of his co-accused’s links to Echuca’s high-society emerge.
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The father of a man shot dead outside his home in the state’s northwest “hopes justice will be served” as police make a second arrest.
A 34-year-old Echuca man was on Wednesday charged with the murder of Matt Alexander, 29, outside his property in Daltons Bridge, near Cohuna, on September 13.
It’s understood homicide detectives identified him as a suspect early into the murder probe.
He was arrested after handing himself into police in Echuca on Wednesday.
The victim’s father, Rob Alexander, said the arrest brought him some “relief” and that he hoped there would be justice for his son.
“Matt didn’t deserve this,” he told the Herald Sun.
“I hope justice will be served.”
The 24-year-old faced a brief hearing at Echuca Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday and now joins co-accused Daniel Oberin, 28, behind bars.
Details of his arrest come as Mr Oberin’s high-society links emerge.
The Herald Sun can reveal Mr Oberin comes from a very prominent family within the township of Echuca.
It is understood his extended family own the popular American Hotel located near the Murray River.
The family have generations of history in the town’s hospitality industry and were described as “one of the town’s biggest employers” in 2013.
News of his alleged involvement in the killing sent shockwaves throughout the community.
It is understood he surrendered himself to police shortly after the murder probe was formed.
The pair will be remanded until their next appearance at Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on January 22 next year.
Matt Alexander, 29, was shot at his property on Eastons Rd on September 13.
The Sunday Herald Sun earlier revealed new claims about Mr Alexander’s final days alive, as the homicide probe intensifies.
A source close to the men said Mr Oberin came to see the victim, a father-of-two, inside a shed at his property less than a week before his murder.
“He just stood there but said nothing to Matt,” said the source.
“Matt said it was weird.”
Eleven days before Mr Alexander was gunned down, Mr Oberin sought help from friends to find property stolen from his family farm in the nearby town of Gunbower.
The property — including a welder — belonged to the accused killer’s dead father.
Mr Oberin was offering a $2000 reward to anyone who could help him locate the items.
“Last week some low-life broke into our family farm and stole my dads welder, tool trailer, more than $20,000 worth of tools (sic) plus about $10,000 worth of damage to property,” he wrote on Facebook on September 2.
“The welder is extremely sentimental to me and the rest of my family. I offer a $2000 reward to anyone who can help me get my dads red BOC mig welder back.”
The motive behind the killing is unknown.
Police would not indicate whether the theft of tools was linked to the murder probe.
Homicide Squad detectives revisited Cohuna just over a week ago to gather further evidence.
A close friend of Mr Alexander described him as a “lovely guy” who was loyal to his friends and family.
He had two young children.
The dad’s death came as a “massive shock” to the community, and friends have no idea why anyone would want him dead.
“I have no idea why they would want to hurt him,” a friend said.
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Mr Alexander loved “doing up cars” in his shed, his friend said.
He was located with fatal gunshot wounds about 6am and died at the scene.
The Sunday Herald Sun understands police in Echuca seized a black Holden ute linked to the shooting.
The homicide investigation is ongoing.