Wed. Dec 11th, 2024

Royce Mallett Haswell Death, British father of 2 stabbed to death in Australia months after moving for better life

Royce Mallett Haswell Death, British father of 2 stabbed to death in Australia months after moving for better life

Royce Mallett Haswell Death – The heartbroken family of a Brit who was stabbed to death while working in Australia have spoken out about the terrible loss of the “kind man and amazing father”.

Dad-of-two Royce Mallett went to Australia “to make a better life for his family” but he had been in the country for just a few months when he was killed.

Mr Mallett, 30, from Haswell in County Durham was attacked in a motel car park in Albury, New South Wales. Witnesses reported hearing him cry for help after the attacker plunged the knife into his chest. A passerby reportedly called emergency services and applied pressure to the wound in his chest.

He was rushed to Albury Hospital but tragically he died from his injuries. His attacker, a 28-year-old man, fled the scene before being arrested by police less than two hours later.

Now Mr Mallett’s grief-stricken family is trying to get his body home. They are trying to raise £20,000 to repatriate his body to the UK for burial with his loved ones, a process which could take months.

He had been due to return to the UK in five weeks with his daughter Rose, 5, and son Roman, 1, his mother Felicity Mallet said. A statement on the GoFundMe page 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.”

Speaking to local news outlet The Border Mail, a witness described the attack, saying: “’I heard a commotion and I went outside. There were a few people around, one guy was trying to (apply pressure to the wound).”

The witness, who gave her name as Michelle, said: “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.” The man arrested had been seen pacing the area earlier, he had been staying at the motel for two or three weeks, she added.

Mr Mallett is understood to have been staying at the hotel on and off in recent days. Tributes on social media from friends and loved ones expressed shock and sadness at the “devastating” news.

“Sleep Tight. Royce Mallett. To think you had gone to Australia to look for a better life,” commented friend Robbie Matthews. Australian police said the two men are believed to have been known to each other.

Superintendent Paul Smith 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.” Witnesses are urged to contact police.

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