A 91-year-old man killed during an alleged home invasion was due to head on the cruise of a lifetime just days later as tributes flow for the ‘cheery’ great-grandfather.
Harry Wright was found dead in his home in Morwell, Victoria, shortly after 9pm on Thursday after police received reports of an aggravated burglary.
Police later arrested a 42-year-old man with no stable address after they allegedly found him hiding inside the garage.
He has since been charged with aggravated burglary and detained but has not been charged in relation to Mr Wright’s death.
It is alleged a necklace and cash were stolen from the home.
Mr Wright’s death has left his daughters, grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren heartbroken, and comes just six months after that of his wife.
He was due to go on a cruise to New Zealand with one of his daughters on Saturday, who said the alleged ordeal would have ‘terrified’ her dad.
‘He would have been so scared; I can’t tell you how scared he would have been,’ Karen Cassar told the Herald Sun.
Great-grandfather Harry Wright was killed in his own home on Thursday in an alleged burglary
Daughter Karen Cassar said her father would have been ‘so scared’ in the alleged burglary
‘He would not have known how to protect or defend himself.’
Ms Cassar added her father ‘wouldn’t hurt a fly’ and ‘loved people’.
Mr Wright was a loved member of the Morwell community in southern Gippsland and was known as a ‘character’ at his local bowls club.
One Morwell woman wrote on behalf of the club following Mr Wright’s death.
‘Very sad news received today that our beloved bowler and friend Harry Wright passed away last night,’ she wrote.
‘Harry was much loved and a real character at our Club.’
The Gippsland Country Music Club also paid tribute to Mr Wright.
‘It is with very heavy hearts that we note the dreadful circumstances of our member, Harry Wright’s untimely death,’ the club wrote on Facebook.
Police could yet upgrade a 42-year-old man’s burglary charges pending autopsy results
‘We will all miss his cheery smile on our Club days. Rest in Peace, Harry.’
Police are waiting on the results of an autopsy to determine the exact cause death.
Charges against the 42-year-old man remanded in custody could yet be upgraded.
He will face Latrobe Magistrates Court on Monday.
