A man has died after allegedly being struck with an axe, despite a woman’s attempts to save him, as another man they were camping with stands accused of attacking the pair in regional NSW.
Ahwen Kohn, 26, is due to face court on Tuesday charged with murder over the man’s death near Bellingen in the state’s north.
The 33-year-old victim was camping at the Little Styx River Campground on Point Lookout Road at Ebor on Sunday night, when he was allegedly attacked.
A 25-year-old woman drove the wounded man to nearby Thora to get help, but he died by the time paramedics arrived.
The woman was also treated for bruising to her neck, telling police she had allegedly been assaulted as well.
Kohn was also charged with choking and assault offences in addition to murder after being arrested at Ebor about 11.30am on Monday.
The three people were known to each other, NSW Police Superintendent Chris McKinnon said on Monday.
“They were camping together,” McKinnon said.
Kohn was arrested on Waterfall Way, a popular tourist drive between Armidale and Bellingen, after getting a lift from the scene, McKinnon said.
Thora General Store owner Paul Creighton told ABC News on Monday the man who died had been a regular customer for about a month.
“It takes the wind out of your sails,” Creighton said.
“He was quite a harmless guy, always nicely spoken,” he said.
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Jack Gramenz is a breaking news reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.
