A man who is accused of stabbing a County Durham dad of two to death in an Australian motel car park has been named after he was charged with murder. 

David Summers-Smith, 28, was arrested on Monday (July 8), and later charged with the murder of Royce Mallett, from Haswell, County Durham. 

Emergency services were called to a car park on Wodonga Place in South Albury, Australia at about 6.15pm on Monday, and found Mr Mallett with a stab wound to his chest.

NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the County Durham dad at the scene before he was taken to Albury Base Hospital, but he later died.

 Royce Mallett, from Haswell, County DurhamRoyce Mallett, from Haswell, County Durham (Image: FACEBOOK)

A crime scene was established with police starting investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Following inquiries, police say they arrested 28-year-old Summers-Smith on Olive Street, Albury, at about 9.10pm on Monday.

He was taken to Albury Police Station where he was charged with murder.

He was refused bail to appear at Albury Local Court on Wednesday (July 10).

Summers-Smith, who is of no fixed address, was charged with murder but did not appear in Albury Local Court on Wednesday.

From court documents, the judge ordered a brief of evidence be served on September 3, with the case to return to court on September 10.

Police continue to investigate the matter and have sought witnesses, dashcam footage and security camera footage.

They said nobody else was being sought over the death.

Following Mr Mallett's death, a fundraising page - named 'Bring Royce Home' - has been set up by his family - who say they are "heartbroken" by the death of the dad-of-two.


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They are trying to raise £20,000, and have so far managed to raise £3,450.

On the fundraising page, the description reads: "On July 8, Royce Mallett was stabbed and murdered while working in Australia.

"As a family, we need to raise funds to bring him back home to the UK. Royce was a kind man with a good heart who went to Australia to make a better life for his family.

"He was an amazing father to his two young children who adore their dad.

"Words cannot describe how heartbroken we all are as a family, and we just want our Royce home where he belongs."