A father who had just won custody of his four children was killed when he was allegedly run down in a terrifying rampage in Perth’s east on Tuesday.
A man has now been charged with the murder of Peter Sponza, among other charges.
Mr. Sponza was on his lunch break at a Metronet construction site at Bayswater in Perth’s east when the tragedy unfolded about 11am on Tuesday.
A 29-year old man from Great Southern allegedly armed with a knife and acting erratically struck Mr. Sponza with his car moments after he had hit another vehicle and slashed its tyres with a machete.
Mr. Sponza was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital but later died, despite the desperate efforts of his workmates and emergency services.
His boss TNE Civil boss Ross Hogan said the workers were on their lunch break eating sandwiches on a bench when they were approached by the man asking where his dad was over and over.
The man returned in his car, with co-workers able to get out of the way.
“But Pete had blood clots in his legs and wasn’t that quick on his feet … (the car) dragged him a couple of meters down the road then hit a pole.”
Mr. Hogan said Mr. Sponza’s workmates tried to resuscitate him at the scene before emergency services arrived.
“I went to the hospital thinking there was some hope, because the boys said he was breathing and they had felt a pulse,” he said.
Mr. Hogan has set up a fundraiser for Mr. Sponza’s children.
“It’s horrendous, yesterday was happiest day of Pete’s life, because he got 100 percent custody of his kids,” Mr. Hogan said.
“Pete literally come into work and said, ‘I’m getting a house to bring the kids over and start my new life.’
“He came to WA to turn his life around, to do the right thing and he did that.
“He was with us for a year, he fought the courts, he wanted custody of his kids and this happens.”
The Peter Sponza GoFundMe page has already raised more than $16,000 which will go to the Smith Family Foundation to help Mr Sponza’s children.
Police have now charged a 29-year-old man from the Great Southern with murder, aggravated assault occasioning bodily harm, reckless driving, being armed in a way that may cause fear, and criminal damage or destruction of property.
The man was taken into custody on Tuesday and was medically examined.
Inspector Jason Van Der Ende said it had been a traumatic incident for everyone involved.
“Two young children were in the car, who were thankfully unharmed,” he said.
“This matter is complex and will take some time to investigate.”