A NSW town has been devastated by the alleged murder of a beloved Elvis impersonator.
Bernie Peri, 75, was found dead at his home in Parkes on Sunday afternoon, presumably killed by 28-year-old Marshall Karaitiana.
Police arrested Karaitiana on Tuesday evening in Tullamore, about 100 kilometers north-west of Parkes, and charged him with murder.
The musician has been a fixture of the NSW central west town’s annual Elvis Festival since its inception in 1993, with Parkes Shire councilor Ken McGrath saying locals were devastated by his death.
“He came to the festival and we got on like a house on fire, he made a really great contribution,” she said.
Peri moved to Australia from New Zealand and lived in Parkes for more than 15 years, McGrath said.
“He was a great guy, the kind of guy you couldn’t argue with,” he said.
Representatives at the Royal Hotel, frequented by Peri, were too upset to offer comment when asked Wednesday afternoon.
On his Facebook page, the pub’s management described him as a “dear friend”.
Karaitiana faced Lake Cargelligo Local Court on Wednesday to answer his single murder charge.
He did not ask for bail which was formally refused.
The annual Parkes festival, which coincides with the King of Rock’n’Roll’s birthday – January 8 – typically attracts around 25,000 people to the farming town and brings in around $13 million.
It was founded to attract visitors during the traditionally quiet summer period.