Edgar Campos: Family tears as man released over death of feuding neighbour Michael Wickham

A hard-working crane operator murdered an older man by placing him in a nine-minute chokehold after a neighbourhood dispute descended into violence, a court has been told.

Michael Wickham, 60, died after being put in the headlock in the driveway of Edgar Campos’ southwest Sydney home in December.

Mr Wickham had earlier approached the home, demanded the father “get outside” and during a subsequent wrestle called him “a black dog”, a court was told on Tuesday.

Police, called by Campos’ wife at the behest of her husband, found the man face-down partly under his parked car.

Campos was arrested at the scene and has been held on remand ever since.

But the 42-year-old had a good chance of acquittal based on the case’s circumstances and security footage and audio of the full fight, his lawyer said on Tuesday.

Prosecutors would need to prove an intent to kill or cause serious harm and dispel a claim of self-defence, Avni Djemal SC told the NSW Supreme Court.

Even a suggestion Campos was recklessly indifferent to Mr Wickham’s life was challenged by footage of the crane operator dropping a metal pole he had initially been armed with.

“He has thrown down a potential weapon and ... attempted to placate a very aggressive man looking for a fight,” Mr Djemal said.

“He didn’t beat this man to death, so as to be excessive (or seek to) ‘teach him a lesson’.

“(Him telling his wife) ‘call the police, I’m going to put him to sleep’ is all about subduing.”

The fatal fight in Mount Pritchard allegedly stemmed from a neighbourhood dispute linked to Campos’s investment property and Mr Wickham’s next-door home.

The alleged victim arrived at the Campos family home, located not far from the adjoining properties, three times in December, demanding the presence of the 42-year-old homeowner.

When confronted and told to get off the property, Mr Wickham allegedly responded “go on, hit me” and then attempted to elbow Campos in the throat.

“The deceased … calls him a black dog,” Mr Djemal said.

The pair were seen exchanging punches before Campos gained the upper hand and placed Mr Wickham in a chokehold.

Police allege the chokehold was maintained for nine minutes with the older man yelling “help” and witnesses telling Campos to let him go.

“He might be passed out but I’m just holding him,” Campos allegedly told witnesses.

Mr Wickham had a fractured thyroid, an uncommon injury usually caused by blunt-force trauma, prosecutor Stephen Makin said.

Excessive self-defence was very much open to a potential jury in circumstances where Mr Wickham would have not been resisting for significant time during the prolonged chokehold, Mr Makin said.

Justice Sarah McNaughton said the crown case had “some strength” but agreed, on the limited information she had, a jury could acquit Campos or find him guilty of a lesser charge.

A trial was not expected before mid-2026.

The judge also noted the presence of Campos’s extended family mitigated the chance he would flee the state while on bail.

Several relatives, including his elderly father Joao Campos and brother Artur, filled the court’s public for the bail hearing.

“I can see from the number of people who have attended he has very strong ties to the community,” Justice McNaughton said.

Some relatives were seen in tears as Campos was granted bail on strict conditions including quasi-house arrest and bans on approaching his family home or Mr Wickham’s former house.

His case will be next mentioned in court on April 17.