Family of stabbed dad need £20k to bring body home

Royce Mallett was working in Australia when he died in a knife attack

The family of a father-of-two who died in a knife attack in Australia is trying to raise £20,000 to repatriate his body.

Royce Mallett, from County Durham, was stabbed in the chest in South Albury, Albury, New South Wales, on 8 July.

His mother Felicity Mallett said the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) told her it could not pay to bring his body home.

A 28-year-old man has appeared in court charged with Mr Mallet's murder and has been remanded in custody. The FCDO declined to comment.

His mother said the 30-year-old had been working in Australia tarmacking roads.

"He thoroughly enjoyed it," Ms Mallet said.

"He was looking forward to coming home for his son's second birthday."

She said her grandson, Roman, was now unlikely to "ever remember" his dad.

"To us it doesn't feel real, it seems like a dream."

She said the fact she and her husband had not seen the body had made it difficult to grieve.

"We just want him home," she said.

An investigation into Mr Mallett's death is ongoing, the New South Wales force said.

Ms Mallett said she had been unable to grieve properly for her son

She said the FCDO told her that it did not pay for repatriation costs.

"As far as we know, they won't pay anything at all," she said.

Ms Mallett said she would struggle to get a loan as she had re-mortgaged her house and was a pensioner.

So far the family has raised about £6,000.

She said her son FaceTimed his five-year-old daughter Rose every day while in Australia.

"It has difficult knowing what exactly to tell Rose.

"She keeps asking 'why hasn't he called me?'"