Arrest after man found dead in South Hobart
A man has been charged with murder following the “suspicious” death of a 40-year-old man in South Hobart early this morning. MORE DETAILS RELEASED>>
A MAN charged with murder over a deadly altercation with an acquaintance at a South Hobart unit complex struck his victim over the head with a metal object, police will allege.
The 40-year-old man was arrested and charged on Thursday after the death of the man, also aged 40, who was staying with the accused at a unit on Livingston St.
The accused was due to face the Hobart Magistrates’ Court on Friday morning.
Police say he called emergency services on Thursday morning and on arrival, they discovered the other man with head injuries and it was “quite apparent” he was dead.
Police are investigating the possibility the altercation could have happened as early as Wednesday morning.
Detective Inspector Michael Smith said the accused was “calm and cooperative” and was arrested without incident at the scene.
He said the deceased had been staying for several days with the accused, who he had known for some time and who was the regular occupant of the unit.
Police including forensic officers, detectives and uniform staff, saturated the area throughout the day, processing the scene and gathering evidence.
The street, a cul-de-sac off Huon Rd, was blocked for most of the day with only residents allowed to come and go.
As part of the investigation, officers were doorknocking the whole unit complex and the entirety of the street.
Detective Inspector Smith said police wanted to speak to anyone who heard or saw any disturbance in the area dating back to the early hours of Wednesday morning.
He would not speculate on a possible reason for the altercation, or if drugs or alcohol were believed to be involved.
Detective Inspector Smith said police had attended the unit complex several times this year but for relatively minor reasons.
“We’ve probably been called to that particular unit complex no more than a handful of times in this calendar year, and all of those matters were relatively minor ... nothing of any significance,’’ he said.
“I think most of the people [at the complex] know each other. The person charged has been living there for quite some years — at least 5-6 years — and most people are known to each other.”
Detective Inspector Smith said the deceased was a long-term Tasmanian resident.
UPDATE 2.20PM:
Tasmania Police have charged a 40-year-old South Hobart with murder following the death of another man in South Hobart this morning.
Police and emergency services were called to the scene at an address in Livingston St,
South Hobart, at about 8am, where they found a 40-year-old man deceased.
The alleged offender was arrested without incident, interviewed and charged, according to Tasmania Police.
The man was charged with one count of murder and is expected to appear in an
out of hours hearing in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Friday morning.
EARLIER:
A man continues to be questioned by police following the death of a 40-year-old man at South Hobart on Thursday morning.
The man in police custody, also aged 40, was taken into custody shortly after 8am.
Tasmania Police Detective Inspector Michael Smith said early investigations suggested the two men knew each other.
“Initial investigations suggest that the men became involved in an altercation, resulting
in the alleged offender hitting the victim to the head with a metal object,’’ Detective Inspector Smith said.
“The man suffered significant head injuries and sadly passed away at the scene.
“Investigations are ongoing and police including officers from Hobart CIB, Forensics and
Uniform are on the scene and conducting examinations.
“This is expected to take some time.”
EARLIER:
POLICE have saturated the scene of a suspicious death at South Hobart.
A man has been arrested after police confirmed a 40-year-old man had died in what police are treating suspicious circumstances.
Emergency services were called to the scene about 8am, at Livingston St, a cul-de-sac off Huon Rd.
Police bus arrives at scene of suspicious death at South Hobart. Coverage @themercurycomau https://t.co/5r8dFSJT8f pic.twitter.com/lSUCC8hifZ
— Cameron Whiteley (@cwhiteley12) November 11, 2020
About a dozen uniform and plain-clothes police can be seen at the property and six police vehicles are along the street.
The road is currently blocked off by police but local traffic is being allowed to come and go.
One nearby resident claimed it was a “rough sort of area” and he kept well away from it.
Another said the incident was “just shocking”.
“It’s sad. It’s a life gone,” she said.
Resident Wayne Phillips said he had been living in a block of units on the street for 20 years.
“It’s not too bad, you get the odd ups and downs like anywhere, though,” he said.
Mr Phillips said it was sad someone had lost their life.
“I didn’t know him but it makes you a bit nervy,” he said.
INITIAL:
A man is in custody following the suspicious death of a 40-year-old man in South Hobart early this morning.
Police and emergency services were called to the scene at an address in Livingston St, South Hobart, about 8am.
A man was taken into custody a short time later, and is currently assisting police with their inquiries.
Police including officers from Hobart CIB, Forensics and Uniform are on the scene and conducting examinations.
This is expected to take some time.
Anyone with information that may help the investigation should call Hobart Police on 131444 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800333000.
