How being a good mate was Angry’s son Liam Anderson’s undoing
ANGRY Anderson’s son Liam was known for being a good mate. But one selfless act to allegedly help a friend cost him his life.
“HE’S my best friend. I would never leave my best friend.”
They were the last words spoken by rock star Gary “Angry” Anderson’s son Liam to a group of partygoers before he walked out of a house on Sydney’s northern beaches, and followed Mathew Flame, 20, into the night, court documents allege.
But within minutes, it was Liam fighting for his life, allegedly at the hands of the person he was trying to help. It was a brutal, bloodied and violent attack that the 26-year-old aspiring rapper didn’t survive.
According to police, Flame had started panicking after having spent the previous evening with friends drinking, smoking marijuana and allegedly taking ecstasy, until the early hours of Sunday on November 4.
It’s understood Liam, who lived in Beacon Hill with his father, and Flame, a plumbing apprentice from nearby Narraweena, had been out together with friends in the city before taking the party back to a house in the northern beaches.
About 4am, Flame developed heart palpitations and became concerned he was overdosing before he went to the bathroom and lost consciousness.
“When he regained consciousness he states he was ‘under something’s control’, ‘something f***ing evil’,” court documents allege.
Liam and others begged Flame to stay as he went to leave, but he took off down the street anyway, about 6am.
A worried Liam then reportedly uttered the words: “He’s my best friend. I would never leave my best friend,” and went after Flame until they ended up in the Pavilion Reserve.
It was a decision that ultimately cost Liam his life when his former best friend allegedly turned on him and savagely bashed him to death. His last moments alive were tragically spent in sheer horror on the small, grassy field which sits between multimillion-dollar properties in the suburb of Queenscliff.
Sam Hunter told news.com.au it came as no surprise to him that his close friend Liam had allegedly been trying to help someone but that his death was an extreme “shock”.
“Anyone who knew Liam knows he would never hurt anyone or wish it on anybody,” Mr Hunter said.
“He was the most passionate, loving human I had the pleasure of being friends with.
“He was selfless, loved his father and family dearly, and was super passionate about hip hop, performing and trying to make the world a better place.
“I’m still in shock … we spent almost every day together.”
According to court documents, a fight broke out between Liam and Flame at the intersection of Pavilion Street and Bridge Road in Queenscliff.
Flame allegedly struck Liam in the body and head multiple times with his fists and bare feet.
A man passing by heard “grunting and gasping for air” then saw Liam lying in the grass face down as Flame’s alleged attack carried on, according to police facts tendered in court. The documents allege “the head of the victim was seen bouncing off the grass”.
“What are you doing?” the witness allegedly called out.
According to the documents, “the accused took a step away from the victim, looking at the witness but did not say anything and had no expression on his face”.
“Help me, help me, help me,” Liam yelled.
But Flame’s attack allegedly continued as the terrified witness fled to call police.
When police arrived, Flame was allegedly still savagely stomping on Liam’s head, and it took “significant force” and the use of pepper spray for the authorities to restrain and then arrest him.
Liam was reportedly so badly injured his face was unrecognisable.
“Officers from Northern Beaches Police Area Command attended and found a man unconscious with serious head injuries,” a NSW Police statement read.
An emergency services helicopter was dispatched to the scene to transport Liam to hospital but he was pronounced dead on takeoff.
The tragic end to the young man’s life has reportedly sent his famous father into a state of “catatonic grief”, The Australian reports.
Flame was on Monday afternoon charged with murder in relation to Liam’s death after being held in custody for more than 24 hours.
According to police, Flame made full admissions to the attack and participated in forensic procedures, during that time. His face was still spattered with the victim’s blood when he was interviewed at Manly Police Station, court documents allege.
“The accused states that he knew what he was doing at the time of the attack, but had no control over his actions,” the documents read.
“He stated that killing the victim was the only way he could escape from the ‘reality’ he was suffering under.”
Flame appeared in Manly Local Court, handcuffed and wearing a long-sleeved white top, and flashed a wide smile at someone he recognised in the public gallery, as he entered the dock on Monday. He didn’t apply for bail and it was formally refused. The court heard Flame will undergo a mental health assessment which his barrister Charles Waterstreet, QC said would “provide clarity”. Mr Waterstreet described the incident as a “double tragedy for the deceased and the accused and their families and their friends”.
“It’s as if lightning has struck at the same time on two individuals,” he said.
Two women who knew Liam wrapped their arms around each other and cried heavily in the public gallery. “This is so surreal,” one said to the other as Flame entered the room.
Mr Waterstreet told the judge his client had sustained “injuries that cause him some discomfort”. As the brief appearance wrapped up, Flame mouthed the words “I love you” to his mother, before he was escorted from the room.
Outside court Mr Waterstreet told news.com.au Flame was “devastated” over Liam’s death.
“They were best friends,” he said.
Mr Waterstreet described both parties as being “two very, very good boys” from “very, very good families”.
“Everyone is devastated,” Mr Waterstreet said.
“It’s incredibly sad.”
Tributes flowing in for Angry Anderson’s youngest son Liam, 26, who was killed in Queenscliff yesterday @newscomauHQ pic.twitter.com/hCz8UfJF0L
— Megan Palin (@Megan_Palin) November 5, 2018
Detective Inspector Michael Boutouridis described the killing as “graphic” and “brutal”.
“It was quite a bloody scene,” Mr Boutouridis told reporters on Sunday.
“The man we have in custody was violent and it took a number of police officers to subdue and arrest him.
“Capsicum spray was used, OC spray, and significant force was used to arrest him.”
A witness said she heard moaning for half an hour, but thought it was a local exercise club at a nearby park.
“I just heard a lot of, say for at least half an hour, moaning,” the woman told Seven Network.
“Then we found out it was obviously him being kicked or stabbed. We should have looked out but we didn’t.”
Another nearby resident, Kim Luker, told the television network it sounded like someone was doing boot camp. “It just sounded like boot camp, a guy doing boot camp, running up the hill and exhaling,” she said.
In September, Liam posted several pictures and videos with Flame at Sydney’s Defqon. 1 Festival.
“Defqon was lit, shout to the homie (Flame) for being a real one,” he wrote alongside a video taken at the electronic dance music event. “Love ya mate x.”
One of their mates responded, writing: “You guys are obsessed (with) each other.”
“Yeah pretty much,” Liam responded.
Flame then joked the commenter was just “jealous” of their friendship.
Liam’s final Instagram post shows the pair posing with three other friends at Defqon. 1.
Facebook user Helen Gaist Hunter described his death as a “tragic loss”.
“(He was) a lovely young man,” she wrote.
“Sweet funny and so polite. I’m shocked and saddened and feel broken hearted for his family’s loss.
“He was much loved by his family talking about his dad a lot.
“He enjoyed roast dinners and playing with the dogs. I don’t know how anyone can bare the loss of the beautiful young man. RIP Liam.”
Liam’s father Angry, 71, who has four children, was on tour with his band Rose Tattoo in Perth when he was informed of his son’s death and rushed back to Sydney last night.
The star’s eldest son Galen reportedly broke the tragic news to his father over the phone.
A statement on behalf of the singer was issued on Sunday afternoon, confirming the death of his son and asking the media and public to respect the family’s privacy.
“With the matter in the hands of NSW Police, the family will not be making any comment at this stage, nor are we as Anderson’s management in a position to offer any comment on their behalf,” the statement read.
A handwritten note taped to a bin outside the rocker’s Beacon Hill home requested privacy.
“We will not be answering any media questions. Thank you for your understanding,” the note read.
Liam was an aspiring hip-hop rapper who performed under the moniker Ranford Bigsby.
His music was also featured on Triple J Unearthed five years ago, where he described himself as an “MC” who took inspiration from Australian hip hop artists including 360 and Drapht.
He had performed at venues around Sydney including the Kings Cross Hotel, Brighton Up Bar, Civic Underground and the Bald Faced Stag.
Liam had reportedly been planning to move to Ireland to start “a new life” in the coming year. On his Instagram page he posted several pictures of the Irish countryside and wrote how he was “dreaming about adventures”.
Handwritten notes and flower tributes continued to flow in this morning at the site where Liam died. Those who knew him described the aspiring musician as a “loving friend and great mate” whose “funny, cheeky ways” they would miss.
“There are no words to express our sorrow in losing you,” one note taped to a pole read.
“Our tears we can wipe away. The ache in our hearts will always stay.
“Beautiful Liam now rest in peace.”
The matter has been adjourned until January 29.
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