Chilling moment two men come to blows on a suburban driveway before one of them ends up dead – as cops reveal the bizarre reason that allegedly sparked the feud
A neighborhood dispute over a fallen gum tree is believed to have 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 caused by a large tree falling from Campos’ property on Streaton Avenue and landing on a neighboring Dargie St home rented by Mr Wickham and his father John Franks.
CCTV footage showed Wickham visiting his neighbour’s house on Saturday afternoon before the pair reportedly got into a confrontation.
The pair are seen shouting in each other’s faces as they push and pull.
Separate security footage allegedly showed the pair throwing punches before Campos wrapped his legs around Mr Wickham and wrestled him to the ground.
Onlookers gathered until footage showed paramedics arriving on the scene and attempting to revive Mr Wickham, who died at the scene.
Michael Wickham (pictured right with his father John Franks) died on Saturday after an alleged altercation near his home in Mount Pritchard
CCTV footage shows Mr Wickham and neighbor Edgar Campos exchanging punches during the alleged altercation
His heartbroken father told him Daily Telegraph that he was “really upset” and “frazzled” over the loss of his only son, who he said had been his full-time caregiver for about a decade.
He said that his son Was loved by many in the community, especially the local children for whom he ‘took great care’ and played with their dog.
“(Michael) was a real blockhead,” Mr. Franks said.
Police set up 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 at Parramatta Bail Court on Monday.
Anyone who witnessed the alleged incident or has CCTV or dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Police have launched a murder investigation into the incident. In the photo the police are on the scene
Michael Wickham died at the scene, despite the best efforts of paramedics to revive him
Dozens of police officers swarmed Mount Pritchard street after the alleged incident