Man charged as part of investigations into Cessnock death, NSW

A man has been charged as part of investigations into the death of another man at a rubbish tip at Cessnock.

Emergency services were called to the waste management facility on Old Maitland Road just after 5pm on Sunday (5 July 2020), after a 54-year-old man was found critically injured. He died at the scene.

Officers from Hunter Valley Police District attended and established a crime scene which was examined by specialist forensic officers.

Local detectives, assisted by the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, established Strike Force Nargal to investigate the circumstances surrounding the man’s death which is being treated as suspicious.

Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives executed a crime scene warrant at a property at Lovedale just before 10.30am today (Wednesday 8 July 2020), where they seized a Toyota Landcruiser.

A 30-year-old man was arrested at the property and taken to Cessnock Police Station.

Shortly after, investigators executed a search warrant at a home at Aberdare, where a number of items were seized.

The man was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death-driver manner dangerous, negligent driving (occasioning death), fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing death and driver not disclose identity of driver/passenger as required.

Police will allege in court that the man was driving the Toyota Landcruiser when he struck the 54-year-old – who is known to him – at the waste facility.

The Aberdare man was refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court tomorrow (Thursday 9 July 2020).

Inquiries are continuing.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.

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