Homicide investigation after Michael Di Berardino killed in Reservoir, Melbourne
AN 83-YEAR-OLD man is dead after allegedly being struck on the head by his 90-year-old neighbour, with whom he had a decades-long dispute.
A 90-year-old man is being questioned by police after the death of his 83-year-old neighbour on the footpath outside his suburban Melbourne home.
The victim, Michael Di Berardino, was found by his wife Gemma about 1pm on Monday, and called emergency services and family members.
The Herald Sun reported Mr Di Berardino was struck on the head with a stick or piece of steel by his neighbour, who he had been locked in a decades-long dispute with.
The two men allegedly argued yesterday over allegations the neighbour poisoned Mr Di Berardino garden.
His son, Angelo Di Berardino, said he had tried over the years to speak with his neighbour’s family and his wife to resolve the argument, which began 47 years ago.
“He was the best father you could have ... The kindest man going around,” Angelo told the Herald Sun.
Police said the exact circumstances surrounding the death are yet to be established and investigators will wait on the results of a post-mortem examination to be done on Tuesday.
“A 90-year-old man is currently assisting police with their inquiries,” Victoria Police spokesman Luke Zammit said in a statement.
Video footage from the scene showed a body covered in a white sheet lying on a footpath in front of a house Reservoir.
“He shouldn’t have died that way. We don’t know what’s happened,” the victim’s sister-in-law Rita told the Nine Network.
“I’ve even spoken to his daughter-in-law, I’ve spoken to his wife before she died to get him to stop, nothing happened,” Angelo said.
— with AAP.