A 79-year-old man has been found dead in a Melbourne home after an alleged dispute involving his neighbour’s wife, with homicide detectives investigating the circumstances.
Peter Duss was discovered inside the property on Penhyrn Avenue in Croydon, in Melbourne’s outer east, at about 2.10am on Monday.
A 57-year-old neighbour was arrested at the scene and taken to hospital under police guard after suffering upper-body injuries. Police said the injuries were not life-threatening.
The two men were known to each other, officers said. Detectives are investigating whether the incident was linked to an alleged affair between Mr Duss and the neighbour’s wife.
No charge has been reported and the circumstances surrounding Mr Duss’s death remain under investigation.
Mr Duss’s wife has been staying with relatives while the property remains a crime scene. She reportedly left the house in the early hours wearing only her nightdress, with friends later bringing her clothes.
His death has shocked the Croydon community, where he had lived for decades.
“I am shocked. I am totally and utterly shocked,” family friend Gillian Bysher said, describing Mr Duss as a “nice” man.
“It doesn’t seem possible that this has happened to somebody I’ve known for many years.”
Neighbour Peter Molloy described the incident as “very disturbing”, saying residents had lived on the street for many years and were generally friendly with one another.
Detectives are continuing to establish what happened. Anyone with information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
