DETECTIVES believe a man whose body was found at Mayfield on Saturday had been dead for about four days, as the man accused of his murder appeared in court for the first time.
Zachary Joel Dowling, 35, is accused of murdering 63-year-old Brian O'Sullivan at a Regent Street boarding house between 5.33pm and midnight on Tuesday June 29, according to court documents.
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Mr Dowling, handcuffed and wearing a mask, was represented by solicitor Adrian Kiely when he appeared in Newcastle Local Court on Monday.
He did not enter any pleas or apply for bail and the matter was adjourned until September.
Newcastle police were called to the share house about 6.30pm on Saturday after Mr O'Sullivan's body was found in a bedroom.
A crime scene was established and, after inquiries, Mr Dowling was arrested at Argenton about an hour later. An autopsy was expected to be conducted on Monday, police said.
Sam Rigney
Sam began his Newcastle Herald career as a night police reporter in 2011. He is an experienced court reporter who has won two national court reporting awards, including the Kennedy Award for Outstanding Court Reporting for his coverage of the Hunter's worst serial rapist. Before working at the Herald, Sam was a sports journalist with the Maitland Mercury where he won awards for his coverage of the Newcastle Rugby League salary cap scandal. Sam is a Novocastrian born-and-bred.
Sam began his Newcastle Herald career as a night police reporter in 2011. He is an experienced court reporter who has won two national court reporting awards, including the Kennedy Award for Outstanding Court Reporting for his coverage of the Hunter's worst serial rapist. Before working at the Herald, Sam was a sports journalist with the Maitland Mercury where he won awards for his coverage of the Newcastle Rugby League salary cap scandal. Sam is a Novocastrian born-and-bred.
