Heartbroken neighbour, 92, pays tribute to friend bashed to death at home
An elderly man has broken down in tears speaking about his “neighbour and mate” allegedly bashed to death at home.
Deon Hewitt, 74, was assaulted with a weapon, believed to be a hammer, and died at his Flinders Park home in Adelaide on Monday night.
Neighbour Ken Bennett, 92, said Mr Hewitt had cared for him following the death of his wife in September.
“He was a great neighbour, mate, friend. I just can’t get over it,” a tearful Mr Bennett said.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do. It’s so hard to think that my good friend over there…
“We used to just stand in the middle of the road talking and he’d come over and I’d go over there not long ago and I sat in the lounge talking to Deon… I don’t know.”
Mr Hewitt and his wife Patty were cooking dinner when a man allegedly forced his way in.
Steven Patrick Berg, 33, was arrested nearby and on Tuesday faced the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court charged with murder.
He did not apply for bail, but a magistrate suppressed his image from publication while identification procedures with witnesses are ongoing.
Police said the attack was not random and no other suspects are being sought.
