Man dubbed a hero after killing neighbour’s intruder

A MAN has been labelled a hero after killing an intruder who was chasing his screaming neighbour around her house.

Frankston Murder

A MAN who killed his neighbour’s intruder has been dubbed a hero and people have taken to social media to call for a bravery award.

The 42-year-old rushed to help his neighbour who was being chased around her home by the intruder on Friday afternoon. Police believe the intruder previously lived in the house in Frankston Heights, Victoria.

Witness Hilary Lennon told the Sunday Herald Sun the woman was screaming and was chased out of the house to her backyard, with the intruder following close behind.

“The woman was very afraid and was screaming very loudly, she was frantic. Something has given her a heck of a fright,” she said.

Ms Lennon then saw the woman’s neighbour walk her back up the steps and “he had his arm around her shoulder and she was covering her face”.

The man had responded to the woman’s screams and confronted the intruder, who was later found dead in the woman’s backyard.

The Sunday Herald Sun believes no weapon was used in the killing, with one line of inquiry focusing on possible asphyxiation. The man was questioned but released from police custody, pending further inquiries into his involvement in the death of the intruder.

The house in Frankston where an intruder was killed when a neighbour responded to the screams from the woman who lives there. Picture: David Crosling

A family member of the man told the Sunday Herald Sun the woman, who had two children, would probably be dead if it wasn’t for him rushing to his neighbour’s aid.

“He’s doing as well as expected,” the relative said. “She probably wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him.”

The woman was taken to The Alfred Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The identity of the intruder is being investigated but police believe he was not known to her.

A friend of the woman told the Sunday Herald Sun she was very protective of her children and was a good mother. “She is very distressed and a bit battered,” he said.

Ms Lennon commended the man’s actions and said it was “brave and “heroic”.

Another neighbour also said the woman was lucky the man was there to fight off the intruder.

Others have posted messages in support of the man’s actions on social media.

“Hats off to the Frankston neighbour who put his own safety aside to go to the aid of the female being attacked,” one man wrote on Facebook.

Another post to social media called him a “hero neighbour”.

“A job well done mate! A bravery award needed,” it said.

Victoria Police said there had been no new developments in the incident.