Man dies after altercation at Dandenong North home
A frightened neighbour who was involved in a fight with a homeless man acting suspicious in his front yard, has been released by police following the homeless man’s death.
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A homeless trespasser died in hospital after a violent neighbourhood altercation in Dandenong North.
Police were called to Gladstone Rd about 5am on Monday after a 26-year-old woman reported a man lurking suspiciously in her front yard.
The woman’s partner allegedly confronted the man shortly before a fight broke out between the pair.
The melee spilled onto nearby Carlton Road about 80m away.
The 37-year-old loiterer suffered life-threatening injuries in the brawl and was raced to hospital where he died several hours later.
The other man was also taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Homicide Squad detectives have released the man involved in the fatal fight.
The 31-year-old man was quizzed by investigators until late on Monday night.
However he has been released without charge pending further investigation.
They are appealing to witnesses who may have seen a man acting suspiciously in Dandenong North on Monday morning.
They believe the man was wearing a grey, white, red and checkered jacket shirt, shorts and dark coloured shoes.
Detectives from the Homicide Squad set up a vehicle intercept point this morning in the hope of finding witnesses or dash-cam footage in relation to the man’s death.
They were at Carlton Road near Gladstone Road between 5am and 6am hoping to find any witnesses or anyone travelling in the area who may have seen a man chasing another man in the vicinity of Gladstone Road or Carlton Road.
They also hope to speak to anyone who saw an altercation take place or anyone who observed anyone acting suspiciously in front or rear yards of properties.
Detective Inspector Tim Day of the Homicide Squad said the “essence of the investigation” was about whether the 31-year-old man was justified in his use of force.
“We don’t know whether the altercation lasted five, 10 minutes or 15 minutes,” he said this morning.
“The exact circumstances in what occurs in the lead-up to that altercation is what we’re trying to corroborate.
“It doesn’t appear to be in contention at all that we have the deceased male in the vicinity of the premises.
“The deceased male was in, or at the premises, then the homeowner comes out and an altercation occurs.”
A woman inside the Dandenong North home led media on a bizarre foot chase while pushing a pram yesterday morning.
The woman told the Herald Sun the trespasser fatality had been “traumatic” for her family before asking media to leave her property.
But 30 minutes later she emerged from the home and began jogging along busy Gladstone Rd with a young child in a pram.
Wearing headphones, she continued down several residential streets before doubling back toward her home.
Her brief appearance lasted less than five minutes and she again declined to speak.
Earlier she told the Herald Sun the family had “been through a lot”.
“I have two kids here and it’s been traumatic,” she said.
“I am going through a lot. It’s been very very hard.”
An unmarked police vehicle drove by the property around the time the woman left the home.
The home is fitted with several sets of flood lights and CCTV cameras.
Carlton St resident Jimmy Nguyen said it was “scary” to know a man had been fatally injured only meters from his home.
“I heard some swear words, I opened the curtain, I seen nothing but then I saw an ambulance,” he said.
“I heard some yelling.”
Mr Nguyen said he only moved to the street a few months ago and had already had his car windows smashed in.
Other neighbours told the Herald Sun crime was rampant in the area, which they believed illegal drugs played a prominent role in.
Forensics and members of the homicide squad spent Monday combing the crime scene for clues.
They dusted for fingerprints at the three bedroom Gladstone Rd property to determine whether the trespasser attempted to break in to the home.
Two black shoes were left outside the Carlton Road property but there was no evidence of blood.
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Criminal Lawyer Greg Barnes said a range of charges could be considered in cases where the response to a threat is disproportionate.
“You have a right to self defence, and defence of your property but it has to be proportionate to the aggression, violence or threat,” Mr Barnes said.
There is no indication charges will be laid in this particular case.
“Usually there has to be an immediate threat - if someone is coming at you, for example,” Mr Barnes said.
“Generally speaking, with loitering, there is no right to self defence.
“If someone dies after an altercation between two people, there are a range of charges”.
Gladstone Road or Carlton Road.
They also hope to speak to anyone who saw an altercation take place or anyone who observed anyone acting suspiciously in front or rear yards of properties.
The investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.