Salmon Gums death: John Gallagher charged with killing his father Dean Gallagher following fatal confrontation

Tributes have begun to flow for the man allegedly killed by his own son during a bloody confrontation at a regional roadhouse — on the same day John Gallagher appeared in court on a murder charge.

Dean Thomas Gallagher, 51, died in the early hours of Friday after emergency authorities were called to the BP Roadhouse near Salmon Gums, 100km north of Esperance.

Despite the attendance of WA Police and St John WA, Mr Gallagher was unable to be revived, and died at the scene.

That immediately sparked a homicide investigation, with detectives joining local police to work out what happened.

On Saturday, John Matthew Gallagher was charged with murder. And on Sunday morning, on a video link from Esperance, he appeared in court on that charge — swiftly remanded in custody until a further hearing on October 30 in Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court.

It is understood the injuries to the elder Mr Gallagher were wounds inflicted on the man’s leg.

It is also believed it was John Gallagher who called police to tell them that his father was injured and bleeding heavily.

A confronting video was circulating on social media in the hours after the incident, appearing to show the disturbing aftermath.

On social media, Dean Gallagher was being remembered as, “A larrikin, a muso and an adventurer”.

“I don’t even have the words to explain how much you meant to us, but you knew,” wrote one friend.

“We have memories that we can treasure but that doesn’t feel like enough. You will be forever missed, always loved and never forgotten.”