A WERRIBEE man found outside his house with critical head injuries may have died following an argument with two men, a coronial inquest has heard.
Shane Hunt, 48, was found by his wife Karen Incledon bleeding to death in the garden of his Wedge Street house on November 27, 2008.
The Melbourne Coroners Court heard on Monday that Mr Hunt had likely been involved in a fight with two men at a unit in Puli Street early on November 27. Detective Acting Sergeant Nigel L’Estrange said that after a disagreement with his wife, Mr Hunt walked to the unit, where he became involved in an argument with a man, 40, and a 16-year-old boy.
Detective L’Estrange said the man and boy confronted Mr Hunt after they found him letting air out of the man’s bicycle tyres. He said the man and Mr Hunt had an argument over money before going inside the house.
He told the court that Mr Hunt assaulted the man with a boxcutter, cutting his head. Detective L’Estrange said the boy, fearing that Mr Hunt would kill the man, hit Mr Hunt over the head with a wrench that was lying on a kitchen bench.
The court heard the man ran into the back garden, where a neighbour helped him escape over the fence. Detective Sergeant L’Estrange said it was thought Mr Hunt walked back to his house, where he collapsed. He was found about 7am by Ms Incledon and was taken by ambulance to The Alfred hospital where he died about 5pm.
After hearing about Mr Hunt’s death, the boy went to Werribee police station and told police what had happened.
The man was questioned by police later that day and confirmed the boy’s version of events, Detective L’Estrange said. Their injuries were examined by a doctor, who told police it was likely they were inflicted on November 27.
Detective L’Estrange told the court the man and boy were never charged because police believed they had acted in self-defence.
Speaking on behalf of Ms Incledon, family friend Alan Brown told the court that Ms Incledon believed the man and boy had not acted in self-defence and that the boy had used excessive force when striking Mr Hunt with the wrench.
He also questioned if the man and boy had in fact argued with Mr Hunt on the day he died, or whether their injuries were sustained in a fight a few days earlier.
“We would like to see this referred back [to the Office of Public Prosecution],” he said.
The homicide squad’s Detective Senior Sergeant Ron Iddles, who was asked by the coroner to review the case, said it would be difficult to argue the man and boy had not acted in self-defence. Coroner Ian Gray adjourned the inquest to allow final submissions to be made in writing.
SEEKING ANSWERS
ALL Karen Incledon wants is some answers.
Since finding her husband Shane Hunt bleeding from his head outside their house in November 2008, Ms Incledon has been on a mission to find out what happened to the man she loved. No one has been charged over Mr Hunt’s death, the police ruling he was hit over the head in self- defence.
Mr Hunt had two young daughters, Molly and Amaba, and a son, Jake, from a previous marriage. He died on his wife’s birthday.
Ms Incledon said the past four years had been traumatic. “We were building a house together when he died . . . he’s no longer here to see his dream come true.”
Family friend Alan Brown said Ms Incledon needed answers so she could move on with her life.
