Shaun Sanderson: Schizophrenic man, 32, charged with murdering autistic brother and slashing mom in neck
RESERVOIR, MELBOURNE: Police have filed charges against a man who allegedly killed his autistic brother and assaulted his mother following an altercation in Reservoir on the morning of March 8. Shaun Sanderson was taken into custody at about 3.30 pm after a seven-hour manhunt. His younger brother, Rileigh, 29, died on the scene while his mother, Catherine, 65, was in the hospital after he stabbed her in the neck.
He was officially charged with murder and attempted murder on the morning of March 9, according to the police, and will appear in court later that day. The court was informed that Sanderson looked to have a history of psychosis and may have had a schizophrenia diagnosis.
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Shaun Sanderson declined to request bail
According to his attorney, the 32-year-old first declined to show up in court because he was worried about the publicity the case had already received, as per MSN. "He needs to come up," Magistrate Olivia Trumble replied. "Him coming into the court is not going to focus anyone else's attention on it any more than it already may well be." He was remanded in custody following a brief court appearance as he declined to request bail. In July, he will be back in court for a committal hearing.
Seven-hour manhunt
In response to allegations of an alleged assault, police and paramedics were dispatched to the residence in Willoughby St, Reservoir, around 8.20 am. It's believed that Sanderson's brother fled the house to a local hospital, but he eventually died.
When it was later established that Sanderson wasn't in the house, police then issued an alert to locate him. At almost 2.40 pm, more than seven hours later, Sanderson was arrested at a major crossroad close to Preston Market. He was discovered near the house, walking around barefoot and without a shirt on.
Authorities initially acknowledged that the parties were acquainted, but they withheld further information regarding their identities. The residence was occupied by a "lovely, beautiful family," a neighbor told Nine News. The murder and assault are being looked into by the Homicide Squad.
