Police charge man with murder over Fitzroy shop fire
A MAN whose body was found inside his burnt-out shop was bludgeoned to death with a hammer by a friend, police allege.
A MAN whose body was found inside his burnt-out shop was bludgeoned to death with a hammer by a friend, police allege.
Simon Kepenci, 38, of North Fitzroy, faced an out-of-sessions hearing last night charged with murder and arson over a fire which destroyed the Fetish clothing store and its residence in Brunswick St, North Fitzroy, early on Tuesday morning.
The body of its owner, named by police as Gordon Harvey, 62, was found inside.
Homicide squad detective Senior Constable Kane Taylor told the hearing that Mr Harvey and Mr Kepenci met at the shop on Sunday night and used ice together.
Mr Kepenci returned the following night and for unknown reasons, hit his friend with a hammer, the court heard. “The deceased was then placed on a bed and ... the accused set fire to the clothing store,” Sen-Const. Taylor said.
Mr Kepenci was remanded to appear in court today.
AAP
Originally published as Police charge man with murder over Fitzroy shop fire
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