A father of six who was brutally assaulted while out on his regular morning walk in southwest Sydney has died in hospital, with police alleging he was the victim of a random attack.
The victim, Quang My Pham, was walking through Yennora shortly before dawn on Saturday, July 12, when he was allegedly attacked at about 4:35 a.m. Emergency services found him critically injured on the street and rushed him to hospital, where he died on Monday despite intensive medical treatment.
New South Wales Police have charged Corum Anthony Ash, 45, with murder. Investigators allege Ash violently assaulted Pham before leaving him unconscious at the scene.
Superintendent Craig Middleton said detectives identified Ash as the prime suspect by Saturday evening but were initially unable to locate him. A public appeal led to two community members providing information that helped identify the suspect and later alerted police to his whereabouts.
Police executed a search warrant at a property in Carlingford, about 15 kilometres from the crime scene, on Sunday afternoon. Although Ash was not initially found, officers returned after receiving fresh information from a member of the public and arrested him at the property around 8 p.m. on Monday.
During the search, investigators allegedly seized clothing and other items believed to be linked to the fatal assault. These items will undergo forensic examination as part of the ongoing investigation.
Superintendent Middleton described Pham as “an upstanding member of the community”, saying he had been on his usual daily walk when the attack occurred.
“He’s a husband, a father to six children, and at the moment they’re dealing with an enormous amount of grief,” Middleton said.
Police believe Ash travelled from Carlingford to Yennora by public transport before the alleged assault. Based on the evidence gathered so far, detectives do not believe the victim knew the accused or was specifically targeted.
“We believe it was a random attack,” Middleton said. “This poor man was going about his morning walk, which I believe he does every morning, and he was set upon quite viciously and powerfully.”
Investigators were unable to obtain a statement from Pham before he succumbed to his injuries. His wife, who had been overseas when the attack occurred, returned to Australia and was with him alongside other family members before his death.
Ash was charged with murder and remains in custody. His matter was first mentioned in Parramatta Local Court, where no plea was entered, as is standard at this early stage of proceedings. The case has been adjourned while the investigation continues.
