A neighbourhood dispute over a fallen gum tree allegedly led to the murder of a man in Sydney’s south-west.
Edgar Campos, 42, is accused of strangling Michael Wickham, 60, during an alleged altercation in Mount Pritchard on Saturday, and has been formally charged with murder.
NSW Police are investigating whether the alleged altercation was sparked by a large tree which fell from Campos’ Streaton Avenue property and landed on a neighbouring home in Dargie St, rented by Mr Wickham and his father John Franks.
CCTV footage showed Mr Wickham attending his neighbour’s home on Saturday afternoon before the pair allegedly get into a confrontation.
The pair are seen shouting in each other’s faces while pushing and shoving.
Separate security footage allegedly showed the pair throwing punches at each other before Campos wrapped his legs around Mr Wickham and wrestled him to the ground.
Onlookers gathered around until the footage showed paramedics arriving on scene and attempting to revive Mr Wickham, who died at the scene.
Michael Wickham (pictured right with his father John Franks) died after an alleged altercation near his Mount Pritchard home on Saturday
CCTV shows Mr Wickham and neighbour Edgar Campos trading blows during the alleged altercation
His heartbroken father told the Daily Telegraph that he was ‘really upset’ and ‘crook’ at losing his only son, who he said had been his full-time carer for about a decade.
He said his son was loved by many in the community, especially the local kids who he ‘looked after a lot’ and played with their dog.
‘(Michael) was a real knockabout bloke,’ Mr Franks said.
Police established a crime scene and cordoned off the street on Saturday afternoon.
Campos was arrested at the scene and taken to Fairfield Police Station, where he was charged with murder.
He was refused bail to appear in Parramatta Bail Court on Monday.
Anyone who witnessed the alleged incident or has CCTV or dashcam is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Police have launched a homicide investigation into the incident. Pictured are police at the scene
Michael Wickham died at the scene, despite the best attempts by paramedics to revive him
Dozens of police swarmed the Mount Pritchard street following the alleged incident
