A MAN arrested in Newcastle on Friday has become the seventh person charged over the alleged murder of Vergel Velasquez, who died on New Year's Eve.
Mr Velasquez, 42, was found with head injuries in the stairwell of a Mia Mia Street unit block at Girraween about 4pm on December 30 last year.
About 10.45am on Thursday police arrested a 44-year-old man at Newcastle Police Station
Police said he was remanded in custody to face Newcastle Local Court.
He was formally refused bail in that appearance and will next face Parramatta Local Court on January 14 next year.
Homicide Squad detectives have been investigating the incident after initial reports that a group of men were involved in a physical altercation.
He was treated at the scene before he was taken to Westmead Hospital in critical condition. Mr Velasquez died from his injuries about 5.20pm on New Year's Eve.
Cumberland police began investigating before State Crime Command detectives took over and formed Strike Force Brallo to examine the circumstances of the 42-year-old's death.
Their inquiries are ongoing.
Police made their first arrests in the case in June, a month after they seized 42 mobile phones in Moree on search warrants connected to the case.
They subsequently made several arrests in the northern NSW town, roughly 600 kilometres from the scene of the alleged murder in Sydney.
A 35-year-old woman and five men - aged 39, 41, 42, 49 and 50 - have been charged in relation to the death. They all remain before the courts.
Investigations under Strike Force Brallo are continuing.
