NYE beach party fight: police launch murder investigation in WA

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/01/nye-beach-party-fight-police-launch-investigation-in-wa

Version 0 of 1.

A murder investigation is under way after a 20-year-old man died following a fight at a New Year's Eve beach party in Western Australia.

Police say the man from Kelmscott, in Perth's south-east, died after being assaulted on the remote Wedge Island, 160 kilometres north of Perth, shortly before 1.30am (WST) on Wednesday.

A man and a woman, both 25, were injured in the brawl.

The man was flown by rescue helicopter to Royal Perth hospital with a serious arm injury, while the woman was taken by ambulance to the Joondalup Health Campus in Perth's north.

A police spokeswoman would not confirm reports the dead man was attacked with a machete.

She said reports that the fight involved hundreds of people were incorrect.

Wedge Island is 400 metres long and lies just off the coast.

WA's major crime squad is investigating the man's death.

Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.