Thames homicide: Neighbours say foul language, threats heard before man’s death

Thames residents have described hearing foul language and threats in the vicinity of an address at the centre of a homicide investigation.

Police launched the investigation after the death of a man in Thames yesterday.

A nearby resident said his neighbour told him he heard foul language yesterday afternoon and threats, including the words, “I’m going to rape you”.

The resident said the house police were investigating had been renovated “a couple of months ago”.

“It’s not a rough area, it’s just the odd house which gets rough people,” he said.

“You get it in every town.”

A street in Thames is currently cordoned off by police with a gazebo erected outside a property.

The resident who has lived in the area for four years, said he heard about the police investigation first thing this morning.

“The house was taped off. It was about 7.30am.”

The daughter of a woman living nearby to the property being investigated said her mum heard “loud yelling” from about 4pm yesterday.

The woman didn’t hear anything specific about the yelling, but she told her daughter it was a shared driveway with new tenants, who played their music “very loudly”.

“That’s not unusual for that place though, there’s a couple of state houses down there that are all as bad as each other, and the police is always there.”

After the yelling, her mum saw police cars soon after, and then officers went around the street to let residents know they’d be staying overnight.

This morning, her mum said detectives were seen “looking over fences and making sure nothing was chucked in people’s front or backyards.”

Police were called to an altercation at a residential address on Rolleston St about 3.40pm on Monday where a man was found with moderate injuries.

The man was taken to Thames Hospital where his condition continued to decline and he died overnight, police said this afternoon.

Detective Senior Sergeant Kristine Clarke said police were seeking a person of interest and those involved were believed to be known to each other.

“Police do not believe there is any ongoing risk to the wider community.

A street in Thames is currently cordoned off by police with a gazebo erected outside a property.

“Inquiries into the full circumstances of what occurred remain ongoing and a scene examination is under way at the address,” Clarke said.

“Police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward, in particular we would like to hear from anyone who witnessed an altercation in Rolleston St around 3.40pm on Monday afternoon.

“If you have any information, please contact police via 105 either online or over the phone referencing file number: 250113/5723.”

A section of Rolleston St in Thames was currently cordoned off by police with a gazebo erected outside a property.

A photo posted to social media shows a police vehicle blocking the street.

A police spokesman said there was a police presence in the area.

Police staff can also be seen in the photo outside the property.