41-year-old man arrested after couple found dead in Redfern boarding house
Image: Steven Finlay and his partner Mitch Watson were found dead inside their Redfern boarding house. Photo: Star Observer.
By TOKS OGUNDARE
Trigger Warning: This story has details of a gay couple’s gruesome death and might be distressing to some readers. For 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or webchat.
Police are investigating the deaths of two men whose bodies were discovered in a boarding house in Redfern on Saturday night.
Emergency services were called to the apartment on Cleveland Street at around 11:50 pm following a concern for welfare report. On arrival, officers found the bodies of 52-year-old Steven Finlay and his 32-year-old partner Mitch Watson.
Officers attached to South Sydney Police Area Command established a crime scene, which specialist forensic police are examining.
A neighbour of the couple told the Daily Telegraph that he heard fighting shortly before the police discovered the two men, saying he had heard “clashing moments before the room went quiet”.
Siti Hajar Abdul Karim and Far Akma Norma, neighbours who live in another apartment at the residence, told The Sydney Morning Herald police woke them up at midnight for questioning.
“I talked to the police last night, and they asked me whether I knew anything … or if I had heard anyone fighting,” Ms Norman said.
“Police have been there all day.”
According to the ABC, Assistant Police Commissioner Stuart Smith said one of the men had been calling 000 on a mobile phone when he died.
Detectives have started investigating the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
“It’s early days,” said Commissioner Stuart Smith.
“Crime scene [officers] will spend the rest of the day with investigators to work out what happened in the flat.”
A spokesperson for NSW Police said all lines of inquiry were still open and under investigation.
Arrest
A 41-year-old man was arrested on Monday afternoon at a unit on Cleveland Street and was taken to Mascot police station, where he was charged with two counts of murder. Police allege the man lives at the same premises as the victims, and that all three men knew each other.
As part of Strike Force Menlow, which included detectives from the South Sydney Police Area Command and the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, a crime scene was executed at the premises and following extensive inquiries, the man was arrested and was refused bail. He will appear at Central Local Court today. Police will allege in court that the men were known to each other.
A number of items had been seized from the property, which will be used for forensic examination.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Redfern Police Station on (02) 8303 5199 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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