By Michael Burt
Tributes have flowed for a ‘happy-go-lucky beautiful soul’ who was allegedly murdered last week at the Little Styx campground near Ebor.
Friends of 33-year-old Rimani Hughes or ‘Marni’ have set up a ‘In Loving Memory of Rimani’ Facebook page to share memories, photos, stories, and moments that celebrate his life.
“Marni was truly one of a kind. The most humble, beautiful soul, always happy-go-lucky and bringing light wherever he went,” said one freind.
“The hair, the beard, the smile, the pure freedom and love for everyone he met. An exceptional human being,” said another.
Mr Hughes was well known in the Thora community and was last residing at the Roses Park Rest Area and Campground.
Mr Hughes died from critical head injuries after allegedly being struck with an axe by a fellow camper at Styx River on March 2. Police later arrested 26-year-old Ahwen Kohn near Ebor, who was taken to Armidale police station and has since been charged with murder, intentionally choking a person with recklessness and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Mr Kohn had is bail formerly refused at a court hearing last week and the case will return to court in April.
The court was told Mr Kohn allegedly killed Mr Hughes with an axe, following an altercation at the site where they were both camping with another friend.
The friend, a 25-year-old woman, alleged she had been assaulted as well and drove the Mr Hughes from the remote campground to the Thora Store to seek help. Emergency services were called to Thora, where NSW Ambulance paramedics found Mr Hughes had died after suffering critical head injuries.
A crime scene was established at the campground off Point Lookout Road, Ebor, and New England detectives – with assistance from State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad –commenced an investigation into the incident under Strike Force Ullmark.
Investigators said the three people knew each other and had been camping together.