By Luke Voogt
Friends and customers alike have remembered a butcher shot dead in Whittington on Monday night as a “great bloke” with “a heart of gold”.
Tributes flowed for Whittington man David Arslanian, 31, who was allegedly murdered in a shooting at his family home on Boundary Road.
“You had such a heart of gold! And you will be dearly missed,” Courtney Shaw posted.
“Such a kind and gentle soul,” Lizzy Lowry commented.
“You were such a kind and thoughtful guy, we love you and we will miss you dearly,” Tyson Whistance said.
“Our deepest condolences to your mum, dad and family.”
Others remembered nights out and trips with the “big fella” or his of love of fishing
“Going to miss our fishing and friendship,” Adrian Ficarra said.
Even customers paid tribute to the popular butcher, who worked in Belmont.
“You were a great bloke and always made my kids smile and feel welcome,” Matthew Wakefield said.
“[We are] going to miss seeing your face at the butchers. Rest easy big fella till we see each other again.”
David’s older brother Haig Arslanian, 39, of Whittington, faced Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday morning charged with his murder.
Mr Arslanian’s lawyer Michael Brugman told the court his client had no criminal record but had a diagnosed history of schizophrenia.
Police and paramedics rushed to the Boundary Road house about 7.20pm on Monday night after receiving reports a man had been shot.
Emergency services were unable to revive David, who died at the scene, police said.
Police arrested Mr Arslanian at a Leopold house just before 6am on Tuesday.
Homicide Squad detectives interviewed Mr Arslanian before charging him over his brother’s death.
He appeared before Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday morning for a filing hearing.
A magistrate adjourned the matter and remanded Mr Arslanian custody to appear in court again on March 5, 2021.
