Salmon Gums roadhouse murder: Man in 20s charged after 51-year-old found dead in tiny WA farming community

A 27-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a 51-year-old man at a roadhouse in the southern WA farming community of Salmon Gums. Police were alerted to the scene along the Coolgardie-Esperance Highway about 100km north of Esperance at 12.30am on Friday. The accused man was known to the victim and was charged by homicide squad detectives on Saturday. He was refused bail and is due to appear in Perth Magistrates Court via audio or video link on Sunday. Investigators are understood to be exploring the possibility of an altercation between a father and son. It is believed the older man’s son called police in the early hours to tell them his father was injured and was bleeding heavily. A confronting video was circulating on social media in the hours after the incident, appearing to show the disturbing aftermath. “Dad, wake the f... up Dad,” a man’s voice could be heard saying in the clip. Emergency services swooped on the scene but the older man could not be revived. A Salmon Gums community Facebook page announced the local roadhouse would be closed while investigations continue.