EMOTIONAL family members of alleged murder victim Ricky Slater have shown up outside Newcastle Court house on Monday to demand justice and protest the 34-year-old’s innocence.
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The family were there to see the court appearance of Benjamin Batterham, 33, who is alleged to have murdered Mr Slater after Mr Slater broke into his home in Cleary Street, Hamilton in the early hours of Saturday morning.
But Mr Batterham did not appear in Newcastle Bail Court or make an application for bail.
The matter will return to court on Tuesday.
Mr Slater’s mother, Beryl Dickson, said her son was well-loved and part of a large family.
“They have lost their father, their beautiful father, they haven't seen for years because he was in jail,” she said.
“Just to think them little kids are going to grow up without a dad now.”
The family have asked that he be referred to as Ricky Slater-Dickson.
EARLIER STORY:
A MAN allegedly murdered after he was interrupted breaking into a house at Hamilton in the early hours of Saturday morning had only recently been released from jail after appealing a sentence for aggravated break and enter.
Richard James Slater, 34, known as Ricky Slater, died in John Hunter Hospital on Sunday morning, about 32 hours after he allegedly became involved in a violent struggle with two men inside a small house in Cleary Street.
The homeowner, 33-year-old Benjamin Batterham, is believed to have discovered Mr Slater inside his house about 3.30am on Saturday.
The pair, along with Mr Batterham’s 32-year-old friend, then became involved in a fight, which continued outside on the street.
Neighbours say they were awoken by the sound of loud bangs and people running.
Police received a call that three men were fighting and arrived to find the two men had “detained” Mr Slater.
But a short time later he lost consciousness, police said.
He was treated by ambulance paramedics and taken to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition.
Mr Batterham was also treated for facial injuries. He was charged with recklessly inflict grievous bodily harm and released on conditional bail.
But about 11.30am on Sunday Mr Slater’s life support was switched off.
A few hours later Mr Batterham handed himself into Newcastle police station and was charged with murder.
He was refused bail by police to appear in Newcastle Bail Court today.
The 32-year-old man has spoken to police, but has not been charged.
Police said that had not changed after Mr Slater’s death. According to a Court of Criminal Appeal decision, Mr Slater was released from jail in December after successfully appealing against a four-year jail term for aggravated break and enter and fraud offences.
He had served more than 20 months before the Court of Criminal Appeal ruled his convictions should be quashed due to errors made by the trial judge.
Mr Slater had been convicted of a ram raid at Sandgate adult store Nauti & Nice in November, 2012, in which cash and a quantity of synthetic drugs were stolen.
He was acquitted on appeal and released from custody after the Crown conceded a number of errors were made in the trial, including the use of CCTV footage.
Newcastle City police Chief Inspector Trevor Shiels would not go into specifics about the case on Sunday, but said it was a “very sad and very serious” matter.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
