A row over a rescue cattle dog may have triggered the fatal attack on a one-armed elderly man who was allegedly bludgeoned to death by a stranger just metres from his home.

Lawrie Elliott, 78, was allegedly beaten to death with a metal pole as he walked the recently adopted pet outside his property in North Isis, near Childers in Queensland‘s Bundaberg region, on Wednesday afternoon.

Alleged killer Richard Babos, 36, of Bundaberg West, is accused of murdering Mr Elliott and attempting to murder another man during an hour-long rampage that began with two road rage incidents.

Locals restrained Babos at the scene and an off-duty police officer arrested him. The Daily Mail previously revealed Babos has a history of violence and mental health issues.

Police are now investigating if Babos believed Bluey was his dog, after reports he leapt from his vehicle to confront Mr Elliott about its ownership.

Mr Elliott and his wife Heide had taken in Bluey from a local shelter three months earlier, hoping it would help the couple feel more secure in their rural home.

Mr Elliott’s best mate Albert Young said his friend had called him several times for advice about Bluey’s behaviour after the dog repeatedly destroyed the couple’s furniture.

Mr Young said Mr Elliott was taking Bluey for a walk to tire him out when he was allegedly attacked.

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Alleged killer Richard Babos (pictured), 36, of Bundaberg West, is accused of murdering Lawrie Elliott and attempting to murder another man during an hour-long rampage that began with two road rage incidents.

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Locals restrained Babos at the scene and an off-duty police officer arrested him

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A row over rescue cattle dog Bluey (pcitured) may have triggered the deadly attack on the one-armed elderly man allegedly bludgeoned to death by the random stranger near his home

‘That’s why he was walking the dog, to wear him out so he wouldn’t destroy more furniture,’ Mr Young told the Daily Mail.

‘The dog had chewed the leg off the table. When that fell, he chewed what was on top, and ruined their chairs too.

‘Poor Lawrie was just walking up the road with his dog and was no threat to anyone. I can’t get my head around it, someone [allegedly] bashing someone to death like that.

‘He only had one arm. He lost the other in an explosion when he worked down the mines.’

Mr Elliott’s wife, who is seriously ill herself, told Mr Young of her husband’s death soon after the tragedy.

Mr Young said Mr Elliott’s instinct would have been to help Babos if he approached him.

‘If that guy got out of his car, Lawrie would have said, “How you going mate? How can I help?”‘ Mr Young said.

‘He would have been full of friendliness because that’s how he always was. He made friends with everyone he met.’

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Police are now investigating if Babos believed Bluey was his dog, after reports he leapt from his vehicle to confront Mr Elliott about its ownership

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Lawrie Elliott, 78, was allegedly beaten to death with a metal pole as he walked the recently-adopted pet outside his property in North Isis , near Childers in Queensland’s Bundaberg region, on Wednesday afternoon

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Mr Elliott’s best mate Albert Young (pictured with his late wife Maria) said his friend had called him several times for advice about Bluey’s behaviour after the dog repeatedly destroyed the couple’s furniture

Mr Young said he often stayed overnight with the Elliotts, sharing cups of tea as the two men ‘put the world to rights’.

He is now worried about Ms Elliott in her cancer battle. She has previously vowed not to undergo chemotherapy again, he said.

‘She has had breast cancer and she is fighting cancer again now,’ Mr Young said. ‘She said, “No more chemo.” She is done.’

Mr Young said he last spoke to Mr Elliott at the weekend about growing older, and Mr Elliott confided he was worried about how he would cope if he lost his wife.

‘It was on his mind because he told me he was going to have to start writing appointments down and making lists to remember things, because Heide did all of that,’ Mr Young said.

‘Now he is dead and Heide is alone.’

Mr Elliott’s death is the latest devastating blow to hit Ms Elliott, following the death of one of their two sons while working in Darwin a year ago, Mr Young said.

‘They got a call from his work to say he hadn’t turned up and they couldn’t get hold of him,’ Mr Young said.

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Babos was spotted grinning at one stage as he was being arrested on the roadside verge

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Multiple crime scenes were declared across the region after the series of alleged attacks

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Alleged killer Richard Babos, 36, of Bundaberg, is accused of murdering Mr Elliott and attempting to murder another man during the hour-long rampage

‘They were waiting to hear and then he called me and said the news wasn’t good. He was found dead. They think it was his heart.’

Their other son lives in Tasmania but is unwell and waiting for surgery in hospital.

Babos’s alleged rampage began about 1.45pm on Wednesday when his silver Subaru Liberty was involved in a traffic incident on the Bruce Highway at Glenorchy.

Police allege he deliberately reversed into a Tesla before verbally abusing the driver and fleeing the scene.

About 45 minutes later in Childers, he allegedly reversed into a Mitsubishi Pajero in North Street.

When the 65-year-old Pajero driver got out to inspect the damage, Babos allegedly reversed into him before jumping from the car and repeatedly punching him in the head. The man was taken to Bundaberg Hospital with head injuries.

Police allege Babos then drove to North Isis and used a metal pole to attack Mr Elliott at 2.40pm, just metres from home.

Mr Young said the killing had hardened his views on how the justice system handles repeat offenders.

‘The death penalty has got to come back,’ he said. ‘If you keep hurting people, keep reoffending, there has to be a better way of protecting the public.

‘Give the family something to hold on to and it will stop it happening. It has to change. The government are so weak.’

SOURCE: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15857675/lawrie-elliott-north-isis-cattle-dog-richard-babos-murder-charged.html