Wee Waa assault: 37-year-old man's charge upgraded to murder after 57-year-old man dies in John Hunter Hospital

The 57-year-old man died in hospital in the early hours of Wednesday morning after he was flown to Newcastle with critical head injuries on Tuesday night.

A 37-year-old man was initially charged with attempted murder but Barwon police upgraded the charge to murder, following the man’s death.

Police allege the 37-year-old attacked the older man with a sledgehammer on Tuesday afternoon, seriously injuring him.

Investigations are continuing and it’s understood the worksite on Culgoora Rd has been closed as police remain at the scene.

The company involved has been contacted for comment.

Police have charged a man with attempted murder following the alleged serious assault of another man at an industrial site in Wee Waa.

About 4.30pm on Wednesday, police were called to the Imperial Hotel on Rose Street, Wee Waa, following reports a man was allegedly in possession of a firearm.

A short time later, emergency services were called to a business on Culgoora Road, Wee Waa, following reports a man had been attacked.

It will be alleged two men, aged 37 and 57, were involved in an altercation.

Police allege the younger man struck the 57-year-old in the head with a sledgehammer and wrench and then allegedly fled the scene.

The 57-year-old man was treated by paramedics and was rushed to Narrabri Hospital in critical condition.

He was then airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle by the region’s rescue chopper.

Following investigations, Barwon police returned to the Imperial Hotel and a perimeter was established with much of the main street cordoned off.

About 6pm, the 37-year-old man was arrested without incident police said, and a firearm was seized.

The man was taken to Narrabri Police Station and was charged with attempted murder.

He was refused bail to and is due to appear at Moree Local Court today on Wednesday.

A 57-year-old man has been airlifted to a Newcastle hospital with serious head injuries after he was allegedly assaulted at an industrial site near Wee Waa, about 30 minutes from Narrabri.

The 57-year-old was rushed to Narrabri hospital by paramedics before the Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked from Tamworth.

The chopper airlifted the man to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle for specialist treatment for serious head injuries late on Tuesday night.

He was listed in a serious condition.

Investigations into the incident continue but one man remains in custody.

A police spokesperson said the police operation was ongoing and it was too early to comment.

One man remains in custody and two crime scenes have been set up, one at the Imperial Hotel in Wee Waa, and at the industrial site, on the outskirts of town.

Investigations continue.

A MAN is in custody and a police operation is underway in Wee Waa near Narrabri on Tuesday night.

It’s understood one man was arrested by police, who surrounded the Imperial Hotel in Rose St, Wee Waa about 4.30pm.

Witnesses have told The Leader they saw a man with a firearm in the main street of the town on Tuesday afternoon.

Several police surrounded the hotel and witnesses said they saw a man being arrested and led out of the hotel, and placed in a police paddy wagon outside.

A spokesperson for NSW Police said there was a police operation ongoing but they could not comment further.

It’s understood the police operation relates to an earlier incident at an industrial site outside of Wee Waa, where one man was injured, witnesses told The Leader.

It’s understood he suffered serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to Narrabri hospital.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter has been tasked from Tamworth to airlift the man to hospital.

Several police remain at the scene.

More to come.