A British father-of-two who moved to Australia just months ago to make ‘a better life for his family’ has been stabbed to death in a motel car park.
Horrified witnesses heard Royce Mallett, 30, from Haswell, County Durham, crying out ‘help, help’ as an attacker plunged a knife ‘into his heart’ in Albury, New South Wales.
A woman staying at the motel, who gave her name only as Michelle, said that a passerby tried to apply pressure to the stab wound while speaking with emergency services.
The family man was rushed to Albury hospital where sadly he later died. Meanwhile the 28-year-old suspect fled on foot before being arrested by police less than two hours later.
Mr Mallett’s heartbroken family, who are preparing to fly out to Australia, are now trying to raise £20,000 to help his body be repatriated to the UK, which they say could take a few months.
His mother Felicity Mallet, who is in ‘total shock’, said that her late son was expected to return back to the UK in five weeks along with his five-year-old daughter called Rose and his son Roman, who is turning two in a few weeks.
Witness Michelle, who was shaken by the tragedy, told Border Mail: ‘I heard a commotion and I went outside. There was a few people around, one guy was trying to (apply pressure to the wound).
‘As far as I know, what led up to it, he was sitting in his car with a mate, whatever’s happened, this guy’s got him in the heart.’
She added that the man who was arrested had been staying at the motel for two or three weeks and was earlier seen pacing in the area. Mr Mallett is said to have been staying in the hotel on and off.
Others who witnessed the horrific incident were in tears as they tried to help Mr Mallett.
Now Mr Mallet’s family are desperately trying to raise funds to bring him back to the UK.
A GoFundMe page set up said: ‘Royce was a kind man with a good heart who went to Australia to make a better life for his family. He was an amazing father to his 2 young children who absolutely adore their dad.
‘Words cannot describe how heartbroken we all are as a family, and we just want our Royce home where he belongs.’
Tributes have flooded in on social media to Mr Mallett since the shocking news of his death broke.
His friend Robbie Matthews added: ‘Absolutely devastating news. Sleep Tight. Royce Mallett. To think you had gone to Australia to look for a better life.’
Superintendent Paul Smith said that the two men are believed to have been known to each other.
He said: ‘It’s a very unfortunate situation we’re faced with. We have a deceased 30-year-old. We have a man in custody assisting us with our enquiries. We are not looking for anyone else in relation to this offence.’
Officers are seeking CCTV footage of the man arrested from Wodonga Place, Dean Street, and Olive Street, where he was arrested. Police did not reveal that a knife had been recovered.
Any witnesses are urged to get in touch with the police.