Manunda fatal victim’s mother says manslaughter charge is not a relief

The mother of a 48-year-old man who was allegedly bashed and pushed on to a road in an altercation with a teenager in FNQ has said her son did not deserve to be “left to die on the road like a dog”.

The mother of a 48-year-old man who was allegedly bashed and pushed on to a road in an altercation with a teenager has said her son did not deserve to be “left to die on the road like a dog”.

Warren Eaton, a Manoora resident, was killed when he was struck by a vehicle on Saturday evening at the intersection of Alfred and Mayers Street, in Manunda.

Police revealed today a 16-year-old had been charged with manslaughter over the incident.

In a statement, police said an altercation had transpired prior to the incident, where a 16-year-old boy had allegedly chased Mr Eaton onto the road, pushed him and assaulted him on the roadway.

Police allege he was left on the roadway where he was struck by a vehicle a short time later.

The two were allegedly known to each other.

Mr Eaton’s mother, Carolyn Wylie, said she was not sure how Mr Eaton knew the boy.

Warren Eaton with his wife and one of his children, taken in 2014. Picture: Supplied

When asked how she felt knowing someone had been charged over her son’s death, Ms Wylie said she was not relieved because “it really shouldn’t have happened”.

“He never deserved to be left to die on the road like a dog,” she said.

Hailing from the Tablelands and a resident of North Queensland for most of her life, Ms Wylie, who currently lives in Townsville, commented on the current spate of youth charged with crimes.

“It never used to be like that, never,” Ms Wylie said.

“I don’t know what is going on with the youth of these days.

“It’s the same in Townsville, it’s like that here too.”

Ms Wylie said her daughter-in-law Jodi Thompson had started a GoFundMe page to help her with funeral costs.

“I cry for his children, they are the ones who are going to be affected by this,” she said.

“He should never have been dealt that blow.”

Addressing the media in relation to the teen’s manslaughter charge on Tuesday, Detective Acting Inspector Alina Bell said the boy had appeared in Cairns Childrens Court on Tuesday morning and had been remanded in custody.

Insp Bell said details regarding the lead up to the incident were “quite sketchy” but confirmed the two individuals were acquaintances and a physical altercation had occurred.

Detective Acting Inspector Alina Bell speaks to the media after police charged a 16 year old Manoora boy with manslaughter following the death of a 48 year old man, hit by a car at Manunda on Saturday night. Picture: Brendan Radke

“Police are alleging the man has been struck by the vehicle as a result of actions undertaken prior to that incident by the 16-year-old male boy who has been charged for this matter,” she said.

“The exact details of their relationship are unknown at this time.”

Investigations are still underway in relation to the possibility of other people being involved in this matter, she said.

“The driver of the vehicle that ran over the man has been questioned, and been fully cooperative with police and … has not been charged.”

Police were providing support to that person and all the witnesses and family members in relation to this matter.

Insp Bell added there is no evidence to indicate the vehicle driver and the 48-year-old man were aware of one another.

“Independent investigations are on the way in relation to that and obviously still being assessed.”

Investigations are still ongoing and police are urging members of the community who were in that area around the time of the offence, who may have witnessed anything or have dashcam footage of the incident, to please call Crimestoppers or Policelink.

Originally published as Manunda fatal victim’s mother says manslaughter charge is not a relief