A Canberra man has been charged with murder after an older man was found dead on the weekend.
Police arrested Grant Allen Q Oldfield, a 49-year-old from Kambah, last night.
Officers had been called to a home in the same suburb about 1:30am on Saturday to investigate a reported disturbance.
They found 68-year-old Douglas Arthur Creek with "a number of injuries to the head".
Mr Creek explained how he was hurt but police said he "did not disclose an offence" to them.
Paramedics took him to hospital and he returned home after discharging himself, about 12:25pm on Saturday.
Neighbours say they saw Mr Creek alive later that afternoon but he could not be contacted on Sunday morning.
Officers found him dead when they visited to check on his welfare.
49-year-old pleads not guilty
Mr Oldfield's defence lawyer, John O'Keefe, offered to enter the plea of not guilty on his client's behalf in the ACT Magistrates Court this morning.
But Special Magistrate Margaret Hunter replied: "No. I want him here. Ordinarily, I wouldn't mind, but given the charge [is murder]."
Mr Oldfield appeared via videolink, though there was a delay of a few minutes.
Special Magistrate Hunter expressed her frustration, asking: "What? Is he coming from Timbuktu?"
Mr Oldfield entered a plea of not guilty and did not apply for bail.
Meanwhile, ACT Policing Detective Acting Superintendent Callum Hughes urged the public to contact police if they had any information about the men or the alleged crime.
Superintendent Hughes said the "full circumstances surrounding their relationship will be subject to our investigation".
Mr Oldfield is next due in court in April.
Editor's note: On September 2, 2022, Grant Oldfield made a brief appearance in the ACT Magistrates Court, where he changed his plea — pleading guilty to a single charge of murder. He is expected back in court later in September.
