The sole survivor of a horrifying axe melee in a suburban street was an alcoholic hothead with mental health issues, his friend claims.
A 40-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman were killed at the public housing block in Cartwright, in Sydney’s west, on Tuesday afternoon.
A 34-year-old man is custody after being arrested at the scene.
Police were called to Huntley Place about 4pm after blood-curdling screams were heard.
Neighbour Robert Bradley said the man arrested was his friend Eric who had been in an agitated state for several days.
Neighbour Robert Bradley (pictured) said the axe killer was ‘mentally ill’ and had ‘alcohol problems’
A man in a grey shirt (pictured) was arrested after an axe attack in Sydney’s south-west – which neighbours said may have been related to a drug deal gone wrong
The attack is believed to have been a neighbourhood dispute but Mr Bradley wasn’t sure what it was about.
‘He’s had a big brain snap, he couldn’t ignore them. It all comes back to alcohol,’ he said.
‘Police were at his unit and searched it on Sunday and since then he wouldn’t settle down.
‘Now there’s been two people killed over it.’
Mr Bradley said Eric was an alcoholic and had mental health issues, but had a job and a family.
‘I feel bad but you can only do so much. Eric had an alcohol problem. He’s had issues with other people in the block and has to learn to keep himself [together],’ he said.
Mr Bradley believed the axe suspected to have been used in the attack was owned by the man who died.
Police are investigating whether a knife was also used in the attack.
Neighbour Robert Bradley (pictured) said the alleged attacker was his friend Eric, who he claims has a history of alcoholism
Elderly next-door neighbour Robert Bangle (pictured right) told Daily Mail Australia he hid inside his home as the attacker ran up and down the two-storey building with an axe
Neighbours said police were at the unit block at least every few weeks and other residents steered clear of it out of fear.
‘People are afraid to walk around outside without something with them,’ Mr Bradley said.
When officers arrived at the scene they found a man dead and a woman in a serious condition. She was rushed to hospital but died on the way.
On Tuesday night, other neighbours gave a chilling account of the horrific axe attack.
Forensic police were at the scene on Tuesday evening (pictured) after the horrific axe attack
A police officer (pictured) guards the scene after police were called to the unit in Sydney’s south-west
Elderly next-door neighbour Robert Bangle told Daily Mail Australia he hid inside his home as the attacker ran up and down the two-storey building.
He said when he finally emerged after calling police, he saw the two dead bodies which had been ‘made a mess of’.
‘I heard all the screaming and I just called Triple Zero and said ‘get the police here now’,’ Mr Bangle said.
‘When it all died down I came outside and sat there shaking. He’s made a mess of them.
Mr Bangle said he heard screaming and called triple zero, before saying ‘get the police here now’. Police guard the area on Tuesday evening (pictured)
Police tape cordoned off part of a balcony area at an apartment block at the end of the cul-de-sac (pictured)
‘The [dead] people who were there don’t [live] at the place… they crashed the joint.’
Mr Bangle said he suspects the incident was related to drugs.
Police are reportedly investigating whether the man who died at the scene was initially carrying the axe.
A man in a grey shirt and beige pants was seen being led away by authorities. He is in police custody at Liverpool Police Station and is assisting with inquiries.
Police placed the street in lockdown while investigations continued.
One local man told Daily Mail Australia he heard screaming coming from the unit as he walked past.
Having lived in the area for 20 years, he did not think much about it and did not want to get involved.
Forensic workers were at the scene as police placed the street in lockdown following the alleged stabbing (pictured)
A heavy police presence was at the scene on Tuesday afternoon at the cul-de-sac in Sydney’s south-west (pictured)
A forensic officer leaves the property in Sydney’s south-west after the horror attack on Tuesday night (pictured)
‘I was walking past a bit before 4pm and heard the shouting and then a woman screaming, but I didn’t want to get involved,’ the man who did not want to be named said.
‘You hear enough screaming every night that it’s hard to tell what’s serious and what’s not.
‘You learn just to keep to yourself, or it could’ve been me stabbed.’
Residents in Cartwright speak over the fence (pictured) after the terrifying attack on Tuesday
Another neighbour told Daily Mail Australia it was common to hear screaming from the apartments at the end of the cul-de-sac.
‘There has been a lot of noise and police presence in the past 12 months around that block,’ she said.
‘There have been parked cars there at all times of the night and a door was kicked in about a month ago.
Officers conduct door-to-door inquiries (pictured) after the attack on Tuesday night left two people dead
‘You’ll hear screaming and abuse and a few days later it would be back again.
‘There has been plenty of cops turning up – once a month minimum and up to two or three times a week.’
Richard Johnson, who lives across the road, said he heard a woman screaming for about 20 to 25 minutes.
‘I heard a woman screaming, she was singing out ”help, help” for a long time,’ he said.
Mr Johnson said police were known to frequent the unit and would sometimes visit ‘twice a week’.
‘It’s very scary, especially when there’s a lot of old people living here.’
Neighbour Richard Johnson (pictured), said he heard a woman screaming for about 20 to 25 minutes. ‘I heard a woman screaming, she was singing out ”help, help” for a long time,’ he told TNV
Footage of the street showed multiple ambulance and police vehicles on the scene.
Superintendent Adam Whyte said the attack was not random.
‘It appears a male and female have come to the units here in Cartwright in respect to a dispute and as a result a scuffle has broken out,’ he said.
‘I would say to the residents, this appears to be a specific attack, it is not random.’
When asked about the weapon, Mr Whyte said: ‘At this stage, we’re still investigating.’
Police said an argument had broken out between the residents of the suburban street and when they arrived they found two people seriously injured.
An investigation into the circumstances of the incident has begun. Police maintained a heavy presence in the area on Tuesday night (pictured)
‘Officers from Liverpool City Police Area Command attended and located a woman and a man suffering serious stab wounds,’ NSW Police said in a statement.
‘NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the man, however, he died on scene.’
‘The Liverpool city detectives are among the best in the state … and [are] looking at all information in relation to this matter.’
The police investigation continues.