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Bowral
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Friday 3, Sep 2010 | Illawarra

Murder Hearing
Tuesday 9, Feb 2010

In May last year, the body of sixty three year old John Campbell was found on the footpath along Mort Street.

A twenty six year old man, who cannot be named, was charged with one count of murder.

It was later reduced to manslaughter.

In day one of the committal hearing, prosecutors alleged an altercation occurred between the deceased and the accused at around three forty five on the Saturday morning,

they also alleged the accused had Mr Campbell in a headlock and used a blunt force to his head, which subsequently caused his death.

In a statement read to the court the accused told detectives "John Campbell came walking up to me, we threw a few punches and then started wrestling on the ground."

Pathologist, Dr Nathan Milne told the court "while the cause of death is undertermined there were four possibility's that contributed to the death of Mr Campbell."

The Court heard Mr Campbell had a number of health issues prior to his death, including severe heart disease, a long standing history of alcohol abuse and suffered from schizophrenia for several years

Defence Barrister Robbie Davies argued, due to these health issues Mr Campbell could have suffered a heart attack prior to the altercation.

Key witness Shannon Popp told the court the accused had arrived at his home in Christmas Street after the alleged altercation had occurred.

He went on to tell Mr Popp he'd done something terribly wrong but it was self defence.

Mr Popp drove the accused back to his brothers place in Boundary Road past the body of Mr Campbell where the accused told Mr Popp to keep driving and not to stop.

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