One family member has shared her anguish following the alleged murder of her nephew this week.
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In a tribute, Junee resident Maree O'Donnell described Daniel “Wong” Murdoch as an awesome, loving and caring man.
She said he was a “good boy with a lot of potential, taken too soon”.
Wagga residents were rocked following the harrowing discovery of the wounded 37-year-old in Tolland on Tuesday morning.
Emergency services were called to French Place after 3.35am to find Mr Murdoch with a stab wound to his left leg.
The Junee man died at the scene a short time later.
He was sunshine. He'd lighten up the day, whether he was cranky or happy. Rest for now.
- Maree O'Donnell
Ms O’Donnell said even though there were questions about her nephew’s business in Tolland, she wanted the city to know the man who “was a million bucks”; the man that would be missed by many.
“He’s gone and it’s a loss,” Ms O’Donnell said. “Nothing else matters.”
She said her nephew was a top mate to his cousins Daniel “Yogi” and Joe and someone who could be a little outrageous in a good way.
Ms O’Donnell said he was loved by his parents, his friends, siblings and his daughter.
“He had a lot of love for his mum and dad, his sister Simone and his brother Michael and he doted on his daughter Shanaya,” Ms O’Donnell said.
“He was sunshine. He'd lighten up the day, whether he was cranky or happy.”
Having lost children of her own, Ms O’Donnell said she knew exactly how Mr Murdoch’s parents must be feeling.
“I’ve already buried two … this is just as bad,” she said. “He and my son were best mates.”
She said everyone made mistakes, but no one deserved this.
When her son said, “mum, I loved him and I miss him but he was a lost cause”, she replied, “I’m a lost cause but I don’t need to be stabbed”.
“He was a little lost,” she said.
“But we’re all a little lost.”
She said she would remember the man who worked with his father in Oura for a while, the boy who was passionate about trains and the friend who had a “lot of stirring left to do”.
Ms O’Donnell wished to thank emergency services and police for their kindness following the tragedy.
To her nephew she said: “Rest for now Daniel, you’ll be forever in our hearts. All our love.”