DETECTIVES believe a man whose body was found at Mayfield on Saturday had been dead for about four days, as the man accused of his murder appeared in court for the first time.
Zachary Joel Dowling, 35, is accused of murdering 63-year-old Brian O'Sullivan at a Regent Street boarding house between 5.33pm and midnight on Tuesday June 29, according to court documents.
Mr Dowling, handcuffed and wearing a mask, was represented by solicitor Adrian Kiely when he appeared in Newcastle Local Court on Monday.
He did not enter any pleas or apply for bail and the matter was adjourned until September.
Newcastle police were called to the share house about 6.30pm on Saturday after Mr O'Sullivan's body was found in a bedroom.
A crime scene was established and, after inquiries, Mr Dowling was arrested at Argenton about an hour later. An autopsy was expected to be conducted on Monday, police said.
