Man charged with murder after brother shot dead in Whittington
A man has been charged with murder after allegedly shooting dead his brother, an award-winning butcher, in Geelong. Haig Arslanian, who comes from a well-known family, has faced court after his dramatic arrest in a nearby suburb.
Police & Courts
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A schizophrenic man allegedly fatally shot his younger brother in their Geelong home and fled the scene on Monday.
Haig Arslanian, 39, was charged with murdering his brother, David Arslanian, 31, about 7.20pm in the Whittington home they share with their parents on Boundary Rd.
Paramedics were called to the scene to treat his upper-body gunshot wounds but were unable to revive the award-winning butcher.
He died at the scene.
The Arslanian family is well respected within the Geelong region, managing the popular Belmont Finest Meat and Poultry on High St.
Haig’s best friend, Rachel, said the accused was a troubled man who had suffered “mental health demons” for years and had been unemployed for some time.
She said after the shooting Haig fled the scene on foot and took refuge at her Leopold home in a hysterical state.
“He would take the shirt off his back and give it to you if you needed. He is a lovely, kind hearted man.”
She said “tension” surrounding an alleged “family dispute” had led to the shooting, with issues that had been “swept under the rug” reaching boiling point.
Heavily armed tactical police swarmed Rachel’s Bennett Court home in a pre-dawn operation and arrested the pair about 6am.
She was released without charge.
The accused killer faced the Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday appearing in the dock wearing a blue jumpsuit, fiddling with his hands and staring at the ground as he made no application for bail.
Defence lawyer Michael Brugman said it was Mr Arslanian’s first time in custody and that he was a diagnosed schizophrenic.
He said his client had not taken medication on Tuesday to treat the condition and he was unsure when it was last used.
“He does need medication,” Mr Brugman said.
It is understood the murder weapon was a gun belonging to the family, which was kept at the home.
Grieving relatives, friends and colleagues visited the home on Tuesday while staff at the butcher shop were too upset to speak.
“Such a kind and gentle soul,” friend Lizie Lowry said online.
Haig Arslanian was remanded in custody for a committal mention hearing on March 5 next year.
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