Man’s death treated as suspicious after body found beside road in Richmond, Tasmania
UPDATED: A road in Richmond remains closed as police continue an investigation into the body of a man found by the roadside with a gunshot wound to the head.
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
UPDATED: A SOUTHERN Tasmanian road remains closed as police continue a murder investigation into the death of a man found by the roadside.
Tasmania Police issued a statement today saying Colebrook Rd, Richmond would remain closed between the Franklin St intersection and the Fingerpost Rd intersection.
Shortly before 6am yesterday police received a report from a member of the public about a man’s body being found on Colebrook Rd about 2km north of Richmond.
The man’s death was initially being treated as a pedestrian accident, but was then described as suspicious.
Yesterday, a police spokeswoman confirmed the man, believed to be in his early 20s, suffered wounds consistent with a gunshot.
A post mortem examination will be conducted today.
UPDATED: Police have launched a murder investigation after the body of a young man was found by the roadside near Richmond.
The Mercury can confirm the man, aged in his early 20s, had a gunshot wound to the head.
Shortly before 6am on Sunday police received a report from a member of the public about a man’s body being located on Colebrook Rd about 2km north of Richmond.
The man’s death was initially being treated as a pedestrian accident, but was then described as suspicious.
A post mortem will be conducted on Monday.
Police established a major crime scene investigation at the site.
Colebrook Rd remained closed between Franklin St and Fingerpost Rd on Sunday night.
Acting Inspector Jim Semmens would not provide any detail on the man’s injuries, only that they were not consistent with a hit-and-run.
“Police and Ambulance Tasmania attended the scene, there was a male there who had sustained some injuries. Preliminary inquires suggest to us that the injuries are not consistent with a hit and run crash scene. For this reason Tasmania Police are treating the death as suspicious and investigation is currently underway,” Acting Inspector Semmens said.
“Tomorrow (Monday) there will be a post-mortem (examination) conducted, the results ... will inform the investigation moving forward, as to the circumstances of the death.
However, a police spokeswoman has confirmed the man had a wound consistent with being caused by a firearm.
Police would not release details about the dead man’s identity, other than confirming he was aged in his early 20s.
Acting Inspector Semmens said police knew the identity of the deceased and the man’s family had been informed.
Police are keen to establish a timeline around the events leading up to the man’s death and are seeking information from the public.
“A very careful and methodical investigation is being conducted at the scene, and that is going to inform us so we know what occurred,” Acting Inspector Semmens said.
“We are appealing for members of the public to come forward, who may have seen vehicles or a male person on Colebrook Rd just north of Richmond, either late last night or in the early hours of this morning,” Acting Inspector Semmens said.
“We are very keen to work out where this man was before coming to Colebrook Rd.”
EARLIER: The death of a young man whose body was found by the roadside in southern Tasmania on Sunday morning is being treated as suspicious.
The body was reported to police by a member of the public just before 6am when it was found on Colebrook Rd about 2km north of Richmond.
BOY DIES IN QUAD BIKE INCIDENT
The man’s death was initially treated as a pedestrian accident.
But Acting Inspector Jim Semmens said the man’s injuries were not consistent with having been hit by a car.
“Police and Ambulance Tasmania attended the scene, there was a male there who had sustained some injuries,” Insp Semmens said.
“Preliminary inquires suggest to us that the injuries are not consistent with a hit and run crash.
“For this reason Tasmania Police are treating the death as suspicious and investigation is currently underway.”
Police would not release any details of the man’s injuries.
“Tomorrow there will be a post mortem conducted, the results of the post mortem will inform the investigation moving forward as to the circumstances of the death,” Insp Semmens said.
Police would also not release the deceased man’s identity, other than confirming he was aged in his early 20s.
Insp Semmens said police believed they knew who the man was and their family had been informed.
MORE OF TODAY’S NEWS:
GOVERNOR STOIC IN CANCER FIGHT
SALMON FARMING FEDERAL COURT VERDICT LOOMS
MAN DIES IN CHAIR AT RHH EMERGENCY WARD
Police have established a major crime scene investigation at the site.
Colebrook Rd is expected to remain closed between Franklin St and Fingerpost Rd into this evening.
“A very careful and methodical investigation is being conducted at the scene and that is going to inform us so we know what occurred,” Insp Semmens said.
Police are keen to establish a timeline of events leading up to the man’s death.
“We are appealing for members of the public to come forward, who may have seen vehicles or a male person on Colebrook Rd just north of Richmond, either late last night or in the early hours of this morning,” Insp Semmens said.
“We are very keen to work out where this man was before coming to Colebrook Rd.”
EARLIER: A man’s body has been found lying on the side of the road in southern Tasmania.
Police issued an alert this morning saying that at 5.52am they attended a report of a serious pedestrian accident in Colebrook Rd, Richmond.
An hour later police advised that the deceased man had been found on the side of the road.
Police said they were working to establish the circumstances around how he died and how he came to be in that location.
Colebrook Rd is closed between Franklin St and Fingerpost Rd and is not expected to reopen for some time.
Traffic is being diverted around the area.
Police are expected to hold a press conference on the incident this afternoon.
O’Byrne pulls plug on support for Ferguson, says Premier must act
The survival of key Liberal Michael Ferguson hangs by a thread after key independent David O’Byrne declared he had lost confidence in the beleaguered Treasurer and Deputy Premier. What Mr O’Byrne said >>
World-leading program which has reduced dementia risk by 25%
A five-year dementia study run out of UTAS is showing drops of 25 per cent in the dementia risk of its study participants. Here is what they are doing to stay healthier for longer.